The Bharatiya Janata Party’s demand for the resignation of Minister of State for Home Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra in the Kalahandi lady teacher murder case seems unjustifiable at present. The tragic incident has been condemned by all political parties and the prime accused in the case has already been arrested. But to link him with the minister on the basis of a few photographs showing the two in the same frame is just as preposterous as the allegation of Mishra having facilitated the escape of the prime accused from police custody a few days ago. The absconder, who happens to be the president of the managing committee of the school where the victim was employed as a teacher, was caught subsequently from Bongomunda block in Bolangir district.
The fact is that Mishra, who is the sitting MLA from Junagarh in Kalahandi, is a popular leader of the area. In his capacity as a public representative and a minister, he has to attend programmes and functions where he gets photographed with so many people. He may not even be knowing a lot of people who get close to him on such occasions and whose pictures get clicked with him. So, photographs taken on such occasions cannot be cited as proof of closeness.
What is even more important is that Mishra, who is in charge of maintaining law and order in the state, has always been extremely careful about his behaviour in public. An image-conscious leader, he has been working hard for the development of not only his constituency but the entire Kalahandi district which has been carrying the “backward” tag for the last few decades. Thanks to his efforts, the profile of the district has changed significantly in the last few years with not only agriculture becoming remunerative after a long time but even industrial activities picking up in Kalahandi. The district is now home to one of the biggest alumina refineries of the state in the private sector.
Mishra’s efforts in curbing the activities of left-wing ultras both in Kalahandi and neighbouring Bolangir also deserve praise. Maoist rebels, who were trying hard to set up a base in these two districts, had to beat a hasty retreat after the state police under the direction of Mishra intensified its campaign against them. The drive against the radicals was also stepped up simultaneously in districts such as Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri and the results are there for everyone to see.
A lot of ultras have been killed in police encounters and many others have surrendered. While people of the districts affected by Maoist activities are happy with the efforts of the police and the central forces, who are acting in tandem, they are also reaping the fruits of development that has been possible because peace has returned to the area after a long time.
Mishra must be given due credit for this. The opposition, instead of trying to tarnish his public image, should behave in a more responsible manner and allow the law to take its course in the matter.
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