Burglary at Cong neta’s house triggers BJD, BJP slugfest | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Burglary of gold valuables worth about Rs 50 lakh from senior Congress member Niranjan Patnaik‘s residence in upscale Nayapalli here on Sunday sparked a political slugfest between BJD and BJP on Monday. BJD highlighted concerns about security lapses in the city, while BJP said that crime rates remain controlled.
In the early hours of Sunday, while Niranjan and his wife were asleep, an unidentified burglar entered their house and fled with the valuables, as seen in the CCTV footage.
BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Sulata Deo pointed out that the burglary occurred despite enhanced security measures for Republic Day. She criticised the BJP govt for deteriorating law enforcement in the capital city and other districts. Deo referred to the daylight murder of police volunteer Sahadeb Nayak at Rasulgarh, which took place before Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Jan 8.
“The audacious burglary at a senior Congress members’s residence, occurring just two days before PM Modi’s scheduled visit for the Utkarsh Odisha event, raised questions about the city’s security situation,” Deo said.
Niranjan wrote in an ‘X’ post, “The incident at my residence left me deeply concerned, not just for my family but for the safety of every resident in our capital city. This is not just about me — it is about the people of Bhubaneswar, who are left vulnerable due to the govt’s failure to uphold law and order.”
He further wrote, “It is time we question why our streets, homes, and lives are no longer secure. My appeal to Odisha police to step up to ensure the safety of our people. This must be the BJP govt’s top priority.”
BJP dismissed the charges, stating that law enforcement has been strengthened since formation of its govt in June last year. BJP alleged that lawlessness prevailed during BJD rule.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi contacted Patnaik, assuring swift action. “I spoke to Niranjan babu, who is one of the frontline politicians in the state. I spoke to the DGP and police commissioner and asked them to immediately arrest the thief,” Majhi said.
In the early hours of Sunday, while Niranjan and his wife were asleep, an unidentified burglar entered their house and fled with the valuables, as seen in the CCTV footage.
BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Sulata Deo pointed out that the burglary occurred despite enhanced security measures for Republic Day. She criticised the BJP govt for deteriorating law enforcement in the capital city and other districts. Deo referred to the daylight murder of police volunteer Sahadeb Nayak at Rasulgarh, which took place before Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Jan 8.
“The audacious burglary at a senior Congress members’s residence, occurring just two days before PM Modi’s scheduled visit for the Utkarsh Odisha event, raised questions about the city’s security situation,” Deo said.
Niranjan wrote in an ‘X’ post, “The incident at my residence left me deeply concerned, not just for my family but for the safety of every resident in our capital city. This is not just about me — it is about the people of Bhubaneswar, who are left vulnerable due to the govt’s failure to uphold law and order.”
He further wrote, “It is time we question why our streets, homes, and lives are no longer secure. My appeal to Odisha police to step up to ensure the safety of our people. This must be the BJP govt’s top priority.”
BJP dismissed the charges, stating that law enforcement has been strengthened since formation of its govt in June last year. BJP alleged that lawlessness prevailed during BJD rule.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi contacted Patnaik, assuring swift action. “I spoke to Niranjan babu, who is one of the frontline politicians in the state. I spoke to the DGP and police commissioner and asked them to immediately arrest the thief,” Majhi said.
