Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik’s constituency Hinjili in Ganjam district, a part of southern Odisha, has witnessed a record number of murders in the last 24 years.

As many as 100 murder cases were reported from Hinjili during this period, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the state Assembly on Monday. Naveen, who ruled the state for 24 years until his party lost the last elections, has been representing the constituency since 2000.

In response to a question by MLA Pradyumna Kumar Nayak, Majhi said as many as 328 people involved in these murder cases have been arrested and forwarded to the court. Out of the 100 cases, there are only nine cases where the accused has been convicted. The accused have been acquitted in 22 cases and 69 cases are sub judice.

The Ganjam district is known for its high crime rate. There was an exchange of fire between the police and criminals in 27 cases in Ganjam. As many as 63 police personnel sustained bullet injuries during this period and 41 criminals were killed in encounters.

Significantly, Naveen was also holding the home portfolio during the entire period that he was the chief minister of the state. However, this is the first time his constituency's crime record has been exposed.