Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the brutal murder of a pregnant woman in Ganjam district’s Hinjili area, urging immediate police action and support for the deceased’s three-year-old daughter, who witnessed the crime.

In his letter, Patnaik described the incident as a “heinous crime” that has “shocked the conscience of Odisha.” Referring to reports and circulating video footage, he said the pregnant woman was allegedly murdered in front of her child by the brother of her partner.

The victim had been staging a dharna in front of her partner’s house at Kharida village under Hinjili constituency while seeking justice. She was reportedly holding her daughter when the attack took place.

Patnaik expressed concern over visuals showing the child crying beside her mother’s body, saying the incident has deeply disturbed people across the state.

The former Chief Minister urged Majhi to direct the police to immediately arrest all accused persons involved in the case. He also sought immediate state support, compensation and rehabilitation for the deceased’s daughter.

Patnaik further questioned why preventive police action was not taken despite the woman reportedly sitting on a dharna seeking justice before the incident occurred.

“I request your personal intervention to ensure that the perpetrators are punished as per law and such incidents are not repeated,” Patnaik wrote in the letter.