Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Angul superintent of police to submit a report within four weeks regarding counselling, compensation and medical treatment given to the gang-rape survivor in the district.
Acting on a petition filed by rights advocate Radhakanta Tripathi November 23, 2017, the NHRC directed the SP to submit a report regarding rapes in the district.
Tripathy highlighted three sexual attacks before the NHRC. In the first incident that happened November 18, 2017 a girl jumped out of an ambulance as the staff tried to outrage her modesty.
The girl was on her way home in the ambulance after admitting her sister to a private hospital in Cuttack.
In the second incident which occurred November 18, 2017, a minor girl aged nine was raped by a 25-year-old man while she was on way to school in Jarada area of Chhendipada block of Angul district. She was later found near a drain unconscious and bleeding.
In the third incident that occurred April 13, 2017, a young woman was allegedly gang-raped in front of her boyfriend by five persons. The survivor was talking to her boyfriend in front of the RTO office at around 1.30 pm.
The five criminals took the two away from the place forcibly. The young women’s friend was also attacked by the gang when he protested. The victims were not provided medical care and counselling and were not compensated, Tripathy told the NHRC.
He sought the intervention of the NHRC and a thorough probe into the incidents.
Responding to the NHRC notice, the SP reported that charge sheet No.192/17 and No. 17/2018 were filed regarding the first and second incidents.
But no report was received from the SP regarding the third incident and the compensation, counselling and medical treatment given to the survivors.
In his rejoinder, Tripathy said the report admits that crimes were committed, but it is silent on the compensation, counselling and medical treatment given to victims.
The Nirbhaya scheme, Victims compensation scheme and action as per provisions of the PHR Act were not mentioned, he pointed out.
Tripathy urged the NHRC to probe the case, sought the status of the Nirbhaya Scheme in Odisha, and to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the survivors and rehabilitate them.
