BJD student, youth wings stage agitations across Odisha over rising crimes against women

Bhubaneswar: Members of the student and youth wings of Opposition BJD on Wednesday boycotted classes, staged demonstrations on streets and burnt effigies, protesting the rise in crimes against women, including the gang rape of a 20-year-old college student at Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district earlier this month. The BJD, headed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, had given the statewide students' strike call.

Holding placards and wearing black badges, the agitators raised slogans against the state's BJP government and accused it of failing to provide security to women of all ages. Apart from Utkal University and different colleges of Bhubaneswar, students also blockaded roads and staged protests in Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Balasore, Koraput, Sambalpur and other districts.

Peaceful protests against BJP

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However, there was no report of any violence from anywhere, police said, adding that the students and youths expressed their displeasure over the rise in rapes. BJD leaders, including MLAs, former ministers and ex-MPs, also participated in the agitations and addressed gatherings. All of them criticised the state government over the prevailing law and order situation.

Addressing a press conference, BJD MLAs Byamakesh Ray and Debi Prasad Tripathy thanked the students and youth for wholeheartedly taking part in the agitations. "We thank all the participating students and youth for their response because of which the strike was completely successful," they said in a statement.