By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR: Senior Biju Janata Dal Women wing leader from Ganjam district, Meenakshi Mishra was on Thursday succumbed to her burn injuries.
Mishra had set herself in fire in front of Berhampur SP office few days ago on Febuary 12 against police excess.
She had sustained about 60 per cent burns and was first rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, then shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. She was later admitted to a private hospital as her health condition deteriorated.
According to sources, a group clash had ensued in front of the House of the BJD leader on January 28 on the issue of parking of vehicles. Following the incident, police had arrested five youths, including her son Raja.
Protesting against the arrest of her son, Minakhi had come to meet the SP at his office. Since SP was not in the office, she met the additional SP.
Later, she set herself on fire by pouring kerosene on her body. The policemen present at the spot rushed to her rescue and put out the flames. However by then, she had sustained major burns.
“In the CCTV footage, it can be clearly seen that my son was brutally thrashed by a group of people with a cricket bat in broad daylight on January 28. On what grounds, have the police arrested my son, who is completely innocent,” she alleged before setting herself on fire.
Raja’s also threatened self immolation after he was granted interim bail by the District & Sessions Judge at Berhampur. He was arrested by Baidyanathpur Police over his involvement in an assault case on January 28 and later granted bail till February 25.
“The allegations against me are false. I was earlier released in a case since then I am being targeted. My hometown is Berhampur but the cops are asking me to stay outside the city. Why shall I live somewhere else? My mother self-immolated her, I too will immolate myself in front of DG office if I do not get justice within 15 days,” threatened Raja.
Earlier on January 28, Raja had a fight with one Sunil Moharana in front of a Kalyan Mandap at Panda colony under Baidyanathpur Police limits in Berhampur over some parking issue. Subsequently, Sunil along with his friends brutally assaulted Raja with a cricket bat, the video of which was captured in a CCTV camera installed near the spot and later went viral on social media.
When Meenakshi intervened to save her son, she was also attacked by the assailants. Later, a complaint was lodged by Meenakshi and Raja following which three attackers were arrested by Baidyanathpur Police. Later, Raja was also arrested on the basis of a counter FIR.
However, Meenakshi alleged that her son was falsely implicated and had no role in the attack.The BJD leader had also written to SP Pinak Mishra demanding arrest of the attackers and release of her son.
