The Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress (OPMC) staged a massive protest on Wednesday against the alarming rise in crimes against women across the state.
Led by OPMC President Meenakshi Bahinipati, hundreds of women gathered at Lower PMG, raising slogans and attempting to gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
The demonstration turned tense as protestors clashed with police personnel deployed to block the march. In a symbolic gesture, protestors pelted marigold flowers to express their anger and grief over recent incidents.
“This government has completely failed to provide safety to women,” said Bahinipati, citing the tragic case of a girl in Balasore who died by self-immolation after her repeated pleas for help were ignored. She also referenced the murder of a woman constable inside a police department office in Bhubaneswar.
Senior Congress leaders including Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Suresh Kumar Routray joined the protest, condemning the BJP-led state government for its inaction. Routray highlighted disturbing statistics: “Over 60,000 women are missing in Odisha. 372 girls have been raped and murdered. This is unacceptable.”
