Post News Network
Kotpad, Jan 29: Hundreds of tribals under the aegis of Akhila Bharatiya Adivasi Bhatra Bikash Parishad took out a rally in Kotpad town of Koraput district and gheraoed the police station Thursday demanding a thorough probe into the rape of a tribal girl.
The 17-year-old girl, a native of Narahandi village under the block, was rescued while she was lying unconscious under a tree in the block headquarters January 21. She was admitted to district headquarters hospital. After the condition of the girl improved, she had alleged that she was raped by some persons.
She had also lodged a complaint regarding the incident with Kotpad police. The police had registered a case under Section 376 and started investigation into the incident. Police had arrested a man in this connection and forwarded him
to court.
However, the locals had blamed the police for not conducting a proper probe into the case. They had alleged that several persons might be involved in
the incident.
As the girl belongs to a tribal community, Akhila Bharatiya Adivasi Bhatra Bikash Parishad, a tribal outfit, had presented a memorandum to the local police and other departments citing its nine-point charter of demands.
It had blamed the police for several lapses in the investigation. It had alleged that police had not quizzed the owner of the house where the girl was working. It had further alleged that police had not taken any action in the case even two days after the complaint.
It had warned that it would stage protests January 29 if their demands were not conceded.
Accordingly, the activists took out a rally here Thursday and gheraoed the police station. They also staged a road-blockade and demanded action against the accused involved in the incident.
Kotpad IIC held talks with the protestors assuring them he would take steps to nail down the culprits. He sought four days to complete the probe. The Bhatra Samaj activists withdrew its protests.
