Odisha Congress demands crime branch probe into Jaleswar minor's rape and murder, announces shutdown

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24 (UNI) The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has demanded a Crime Branch investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a Class IX student from Debakumar village in the Paschim Bada area of Jaleswar in Balasore district, alleging serious lapses in the police investigation and possible political interference in the handling of the case. As part of its protest, the Congress has announced an eight-hour shutdown in Jaleswar on October 27, demanding accountability for the alleged negligence and a thorough, impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girl's death. Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in…