Bhubaneswar, July 22 -- Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday raised concern over the safety of women in the state, stating that a "disturbing" wave of crimes against women is "gripping" the state.

Patnaik said the recent surge in sexual assaults reflects a troubling erosion of law enforcement.

"Today's news about rape in Jajpur, gangrape in Jagatsinghpur and Malkangiri and sexual assault in Puri ... deeply saddens and horrifies all of us. A disturbing wave of crimes against women is gripping Odisha," the BJD chief wrote in a post on X.

He said that the state's streets have become "increasingly" unsafe for women in both cities and villages.

"Both in cities and villages, the streets have...