Bhubaneswar: A brutal murder in Kharida village under Hinjili Assembly constituency has triggered widespread shock and outrage in Odisha after a pregnant woman was allegedly killed in front of her child, prompting strong political reaction from BJD President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Describing the incident as “horrific” and “heartbreaking,” Patnaik said the crime has left him deeply anguished. He noted that the victim was staging a dharna outside their home with their child in his lap, seeking justice, when the woman was allegedly murdered in a heinous manner inside the house.
According to reports, a 21-year-old pregnant woman was fatally attacked in Ganjam district while staging a sit-in protest outside her in-laws’ home. The victim, Puja Swain, a resident of the Agastinuagam area under Ganjam police station jurisdiction, had been demanding rights for her young daughter.
Authorities said Puja had arrived at her husband’s residence in Kharida village the previous day to seek justice, and had been protesting outside the property since then. On Tuesday, she was allegedly assaulted with an axe by her husband’s younger brother, identified as a minor named Litu, who is accused of killing her in the attack.
The victim’s small daughter was present at the scene when the incident occurred. Hinjili police have registered a formal case in the matter and taken the accused brother-in-law into custody.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Patnaik said the most disturbing aspect of the incident was the presence of a three-year-old child, who was seen crying beside the mother’s lifeless body, an image that has deeply shaken public sentiment across Odisha.
Questioning the law-and-order situation, the BJD president raised concerns about repeated incidents of serious crimes in the state. He asked what preventive measures were taken by the police despite the protest situation outside the house. He criticised what he described as a weakening of the enforcement of the legal system.
He urged Majhi to personally intervene in the matter and ensure strict and exemplary punishment for those responsible. Patnaik also called for immediate support for the child witness, including medical care, financial assistance, and long-term rehabilitation by the state government.
The incident has intensified debate over policing and women’s safety in Odisha, with calls for swift investigation and stronger preventive measures to ensure such crimes are not repeated.
