Bhubaneswar: A day after the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl by a youth at Niladri Vihar under Chandrasekharpur police limits here, a petition was filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking justice for the minor ‘rape survivor’ Wednesday.
In his petition (9861/IN/2019), rights activist Himanshu Sekhar Nayak has informed the commission that the gruesome episode took place when rains lashed the Capital city Tuesday afternoon.
Condemning the shameful act, Nayak has urged the apex rights body to direct the state Chief Secretary to pay `10 lakh compensation to the rape survivor and send the compensation disbursal proof to NHRC within four weeks.
This apart, the rights activist has also sought a directive to Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for ensuring stringent action against the culprit. The DCP is required to send an action-taken report, medical report and charge-sheet to the rights body within four weeks, the petitioner urged the commission.
Elaborating the turn of events, Nayak said that the minor girl was playing near her residence after her return from school. However, she took shelter at the verandah of the accused, Rabi Narayan Naik, when it rained heavily. Finding her alone, Rabi, one of the victim’s neighbours, offered her chocolates and lured her into coming to his room where he sexually abused her. A few minutes later, the accused, however, let the girl go as she cried inconsolably.
The embarrassment came to the fore when the victim’s family found her in cries. Soon after, the aggrieved family, along with a few neighbours, searched for the girl’s tormentor though unsuccessfully. Meanwhile, the victim was admitted to a healthcare facility as her condition deteriorated.
Later, the family approached the police who registered a case (14/19) under Section 376 of the IPC apart from relevant Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. It was in the evening when police zeroed in on the accused and took him into custody.
