Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a very serious view of the inability of the authorities to arrest the individuals responsible for the gang-rape of a minor schoolgirl at Kunduli in the Koraput district of Orissa and her worsening condition.
The Rapid Action Cell of the NHRC will monitor the case as the Orissa government has failed to arrest the accused. The accused individuals are free even three weeks after the incident, and the hospitalised survivor has been threatened by the police. The survivor has not been given psycho-social counselling or adequate medical treatment.
Acting on the petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC issued a notice to the Orissa DGP calling for a report and compliance with Section IPC 166A within four weeks and asked the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of its investigation division to collect facts via telephone from the Orissa government within three days, and to place the report before it.
The gang-rape survivor was allegedly threatened by a woman cop who forced the minor survivor to provide details of the incident to her. The conversation which was aired by a premiere news channel speaks volumes, the petitioner stated.
The press conference by the SC/ST wing of BJD and major opposition parties also doubted the involvement of security personnel in the crime. The DGP’s statement that the perpetrators of the crime were not the police or Maoists was reported in the media. The victim’s statement and assessment of the situation by various persons raised serious doubts about the role of security personnel.
The CB-CID which was entrusted with investigation of the case also failed to arrest the culprits. The victim has not been provided proper medical care and psycho-social counselling and has not been compensated. This is a classic case of failure of the state machinery and high handedness by the Orissa police. The negligence and failure of the government to act on the issue is a serious violation of human rights, Tripathy alleged.
The petitioner requested the NHRC to investigate the case independently by the DG (I), direct the DGP and the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Women and Child Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, Orissa to act against the errant officials, and to send details of the police action, condition of the victim and highhandedness of the woman cop against the victim.
Tripathy also urged the NHRC to take immediate legal action against the culprits and to pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the victim, and recommend the steps to be taken in the interests of justice and human rights.
The investigation wing of the NHRC shall place the facts of the case before it by Wednesday. PNN