The alleged kidnapping and murder of Pari, a five-year-old girl from Odisha’s Nayagarh district, has triggered a political earthquake in the state.

While the winter session of the Assembly that was adjourned prematurely witnessed repeated pandemonium over the issue, the Opposition BJP and the Congress continue to stage protests across the state demanding the resignation of Nayagarh MLA and higher education minister Arun Sahoo, who is being accused of shielding the culprits.

A special investigation team (SIT), headed by IPS officer Arun Bothra, has been constituted by chief minister Naveen Patnaik to probe the case. The team has begun its work but the BJP and Pari’s parents continue to demand a CBI probe into the case and the resignation of Sahoo.

Pari was allegedly kidnapped while playing near her house in Jadupur village of Nayagarh in July. Later her skeletal remains were found dumped in a sack behind the house. While the BJP, whose national spokesperson Sambit Patra staged a demonstration over the issue in New Delhi recently and filed a petition before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking justice for Pari, the Congress is divided with a section of its leaders demanding resignation of the minister. On the other hand, Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra has expressed satisfaction with the announcement of a court-monitored SIT probe which he has described as historic.

With the issue set to snowball and have long-term political repercussions, this correspondent spoke to Pari’s father Ashok Sahoo, an autorickshaw driver, about the incident.

How did your daughter go missing?

Pari was my only child. We named her Pari as she looked like an angel. Whatever I have earned I have spent on her, buying her toys and whatever she demanded. On July 14, she was playing in front of our house with other children. But she did not return home. We frantically searched for her. After failing to find her, we lodged an FIR with the police the same evening.

When was her body recovered?

Torn by grief and frustrated over police inaction we could do little else but hope in vain for her return. Some elderly women in the neighbourhood asked us to search for her in the bushes behind the house. We found in the bushes what we are sure was her skull, 12 more pieces of her skeletal remains and her torn shirt. We immediately informed the police. The police came with the dog squad and a scientific team. Later, they took us to SCB Medical College, Cuttack, for examination. They also took our blood samples, perhaps for a DNA test. But we have still not been informed about the results. We are completely in the dark about what they have done.

What do you suspect?

I don’t have any enemies still my child was killed. I have a strong suspicion that she was killed by people involved in the human organ racket, especially the kidney racket. Perhaps her kidney was removed for transplantation. Since I am an auto driver no one would have thought that the issue will raise so much heat. I have already told the police and the media the name of the accused who I know is involved in the crime. He is very close to higher education minister Arun Sahoo who hails from our district. Police are yet to take action against them.

Ashok and Saudamini along with their daughter Sourced by correspondent

Have you raised the kidney theft allegation under political pressure?

No, I want justice for my daughter. Why should I seek political favour? Both the BJP and the Congress have extended support to me. I feel with their support I would be able to get justice for my daughter and the police will stop torturing me.

Many say Pari was killed in an accident by a JCB (an excavator) in front of your house. As the vehicle did not have valid documents and belonged to an influential BJD leader, an attempt was made to hide the crime. What do you have to say?

I don’t believe this. No JCB ran on that day in front of my house. Let’s have a fair probe. I have undergone a lot in my search for justice to my daughter.

What kind of problems did you face?

The local police instead of arresting the accused picked up me and my relatives, including my father-in-law, a number of times and made us sit in the police station for hours. They are doing all this at the behest of some political leaders. I was even attacked with stones and had to get seven stitches in my head. I was even forced to leave my village Jadupur and I am now living with my in-laws in Jogiapalli. For the sake of a fair probe, the resignation of the minister is a must. The accused is close to the minister and his photograph with the minister has already gone viral.

Why did you and your wife decide to commit self-immolation in front of the Assembly in November?

In 2010 I had worked for the then school and mass education minister Pratap Jena as a security guard (Jena is now the state law minister). During that time I had seen how people protested in front of the Assembly. My daughter went missing in July and later her skeletal remains were recovered.

After running to the police station several times, we got tired and fed up with the system. So we decided to end our lives in front of the Assembly so that the issue was highlighted properly.

It seems you have become a pawn in the hands of some political parties. Don’t you have faith in the SIT probe?

I have faith in chief minister Naveen Patnaik. I know he will give justice to me. I am not affiliated to any political party. Only those who have lost their children will understand the pain and anguish of a parent whose child gets kidnapped and killed in this heinous manner. My daughter’s remains were found dumped in the bushes wrapped in a gunny bag.