Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 20: The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the brutal murder of Itishree Pradhan, a contractual teacher in Rayagada district who died November 1, 2013 after allegedly being set on fire by two persons October 27.
The apex court, in an order, asked the CBI director to form a probe team within a week to nab the prime accused in the murder of the lady teacher and submit a report within two months. The 27-year-old teacher was set on fire October 27 after she refused to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against a sub-inspector of schools.
Pradhan with 80 per cent burns had succumbed to her injuries November 1 at a hospital in Vishakhapatnam.
The brutal incident had taken place at the hostel of a primary school at Tikiri, about 600 km southwest of Bhubaneswar. Pradhan was about to go to sleep when an unidentified person barged into her room and set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her and fled.
In her statement before a magistrate, Pradhan said she was attacked because she did not withdraw her sexual harassment complaint against SI Netrananda Dandasena after which he was arrested from a place near Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border. Even after the Crime Branch took over the probe November 1 last year following an order of the CM, the police are yet to arrest another person who allegedly poured kerosene on Pradhan.
Earlier, the district collector had suspended Dandasena for his alleged involvement in the crime while district inspector of schools (DI) Dharanidhar Behera was also suspended for not taking against the SI despite receiving a complaint from Pradhan.
Pradhan had reportedly lodged her complaint against Dandasena in the local police station July 18, 2013. As there was no action, she moved the district collector and Orissa State Women’s Commission a month later.
