‘Conversion’ to blame for girl’s death: Bajrang Dal

State Bajrang Dal convenor Subash Chouhan demanded that the Crime Branch inquire into the girl’s murder. He claimed that the family had been asked by ‘‘some Christian families’’ in his village to ‘‘convert to Christianity’’.

Jyotirmayee’s parents, Alekh and Jashoda Bez, at a news conference, claimed these people had visited their house asking them to ‘‘change’’ their faith as it would ‘‘fetch them lot of money’’ and help them in getting their daughter married. On their refusal to convert, they claimed, they were threatened.

Chouhan said a ‘‘fact-finding’’ team of the Bajrang Dal had visited the murder victim’s village near Dhenkanal town.