Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the District Magistrate-cum-Collector of Kendrapara to grant Rs 5 lakh compensation to a minor rape victim as applicable under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) scheme.
The NHRC passed the order February 2 while hearing a petition filed by rights activist Sagar Jena of Endor village under Kendrapara Sadar police limits.
Jena informed the commission that a Class VI student of a Pattamundai-based ashram school was found four-month pregnant.
“As schools were shut during the pandemic, the 13-year-old had gone to her home in Jajpur. However, after a few days of returning to school, the minor was found four-month pregnant,” Jena said.
Soon, school authorities informed her parents and approached the Pattamundai police station which registered a case (697/21) and nabbed a 14-year-old boy for sexually abusing the girl and subsequently impregnating her, Jena informed the apex rights body.
The boy was later produced before the Juvenile Justice authorities in Kendrapara.
Jena sought action against the accused and provide compensation to the minor victim.
The commission had issued notice to the District Collector and SP of Kendrapara calling for a report in regard.
The commission received a report April 27, 2022 from Kendrapada ADM stating that an FIR has been registered and the accused has been taken into custody and a chargesheet has been submitted in this regard.
The commission had called for comments from the complainant on the reports within four weeks. But, no comment was sent to the NHRC.
The commission, in its order February 2, directed the DM of Kendrapara to grant compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim as applicable under the NLSA scheme.
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