The brutal mob killing of Sheikh Makrand Mohammad in Odisha’s Balasore has drawn sharp political rebuke, with BJD president Naveen Patnaik at the forefront, mourning the loss and mobilizing his party for answers.
During a strategy session at Naveen Niwas, Patnaik laid bare his anguish over the minority youth’s demise, tied to suspected illegal animal trade. Promptly, he dispatched a delegation to the site in Balasore Sadar, including heavyweights like Sulta Dev MP, ex-minister Prafulla Samal, and Gulmaki Habib.
Sanjay Das Burma, briefing journalists, described the episode as a dark stain on Odisha’s tranquil legacy. ‘Post-independence, we’ve never witnessed such savagery,’ he asserted, underscoring the team’s mission to meet the family and police.
He further alleged that the BJP’s dual governance model has precipitated a lawlessness surge, particularly against minorities—a claim bolstered by OPCC’s Bhakta Charan Das, who decried rising oppression of weaker sections.
The sequence of events paints a grim picture: On January 14, cow protectors allegedly thrashed the victim, prompting police response and hospital transfer, only for him to pass away later.
BJD’s outright rejection of the violence signals a broader offensive. Patnaik’s insistence on full disclosure hints at impending scrutiny in legislative forums. In this charged atmosphere, the incident serves as a clarion call for healing divides and enforcing justice impartially.