Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Feb 20:

Seven days after he launched a fast-unto-death in front of Raj Bhavan here demanding the tracing of five tribal youths in Malkangiri who have gone missing while in police custody, Congress MP from Nabarangpur Pradip Majhi on Thursday called off his fast.

pradip majhi

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jayadev Jena served him some fruit juice to end the week-long fast.

Majhi, along with former MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati and others, sat on a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan demanding action against the Malkangiri SDPO for his alleged role in the disappearance of Trinath Samarth, a tribal youth from the area.

Around 2000 tribals from Malkangiri district staged a silent protest rally- with their mouths covered by black ribbons-  from the Congress Bhawan to  Raj Bhawan against the state government inaction over the issue raised by Majhi.

Apart from the issue of the missing Trinath Samrath, Majhi had also demanded information on four more persons who had gone missing after they were taken into police custody. They are Indra Madhi, Sarpanch of Tentuliagada, Akul Sarkar, Ward member (MV-123) of Chintapali gram panchayat, Tamai Madkami, of Kotakonda block and Benu Hantal of Alampada in Kudumuluguma block.

Later talking to media persons, Majhi said if his demands were not met by the government by March 1, he would launch an indefinite agitation in Malkangiri district from the next day to ensure justice to the aggrieved tribal families.

Majhi along with OPCC chief Jena and other party members submitted another memorandum today to Governor S C Jamir after meeting him at his residence to look after the issue positively.

OPCC had  submitted a memorandum to the Governor on February 12 seeking his intervention in the matter.