Post News Network
Garadpur (Kendrapara), March 29: A four-year-old girl lodged along with her murder convict parents in a jail for over three years got a new lease of life Friday after she was released following the district administration’s intervention.
After her release from Barimula jail, Poonam was left in the care of Pallishree Kanyashram, a children’s home, by the district child protection unit (DCPU).
Her release became possible after chairman of the DCPU Sisir Kumar Routray came to know about her ordeal. He apprised the district collector of the matter who in turn wrote to jail superintendent Binayak Sahu regarding Poonam’s release.
Advocate Bibekananda Atibudhi, counsel for DCPU, also apprised the magistrate of the matter following which the latter directed the jail superintendent to release the child from the jail. Director of the Kanyashram Srikant Nayak came to the jail Friday to receive the girl.
However, their efforts did not end here as the girl refused to leave her parents and come out of the jail cell as she had developed a fear psychosis over the years and failed to identify cattle, dogs and other domestic animals. She was even got frightened on noticing vehicles moving on roads.
Counselor of DCPU Kanakalata Behera and social activist Subhra Lipsa Nayak met the girl in her cell and spent time with her. Following a counseling session, the girl agreed to come out of the jail.
According to reports, Poonam’s parents of Talagaon village under Patkura police limits had killed their nephew and niece two days before their marriage over a property dispute. Police arrested them for the murder.
They were first remanded in judicial custody along with the girl and were finally awarded life imprisonment after the magistrate concluded hearing on the matter.
The incident had then spread shockwaves in the district as well as the state. Following this, the couple was sent to jail in 2012. As Poonam was only 16-month-old then, she had to share her parents’ cell in jail.
