Updating
Civil Society Intervention to fight for justice for Kunduli Rape victim in
Odisha
On
10.10.17, after allegation of a dalit 14-year old girl being raped by Cobra
Para-military force in Musaguda village area of Koraput districts, the state
witnessed series of rally, dharana, demonstration by opposition political
parties and social organisations visiting Koraput to meet the victim to ascertain
the fact about allegation. Few Human Rights Activists also conducted fact-finding
about it and filed complaint to Odisha Human Rights Commission for justice to
the victim. On the other hand, it was also observed that
the Investigating officers
carrying out inquiry into allegation
maintained ominous silence for few
days trying hard to exert
pressure on Victim to withdraw the
statement and at last declared that the girl was not raped. After denial of victim’s allegation by ADG,
HRPC, the Activists and Opposition
political parties reacted strongly and
demanded CBI inquiry into it.
When
this unfortunate incident happened, the
members of Civil Society Groups and RTI
Activists were engaged in organising National Convention on RTI in Bhubaneswar held from 14th to 16th
Oct.17. After having noticed that the State Govt. dillydallying this issue and diluting the
investigation, the Civil Society Groups,
though late called a
State-level Consultation meeting
on 4.11.17 to
discussion the details of the
issues and chalk out further course of action. After discussion, it
was decided to organise protest in all district headquarters and
file complaint case to
Commissions.
On 5.11.17, series of complaint cases were
filed to National Human Rights
Commission, New Delhi, National Commission for Women and National Commission
for Protection of Child Rights, New Delhi.
On
9.11.17, the Civil Society Groups organised
Press meet and condemned police inaction and conspiracy of
State Govt. officials to dilute the investigation in alleged Rape Case and
demanded CBI inquiry.
On 14.11.17, the Human Rights Activists and RTI Activists under
banner of Civil Society organised Black
Day in 15 district head quarters involving concerened citizens, Activists and
academicians condemning failure of police to arrest the culprits and demanded CBI inquiry into it and
submitted memorandum addressed to
Governor through Collectors of the districts.
On 24.11.17, having
heard about Kunduli Rape victim being admitted in S.C.B. College and Hospital, Cuttack, the members of Civil Society Groups had
visited Hospital to meet her. The Authority did not allow the team to
meet her. During that time, Damei Chhati , mother of Victim and other family
members reached in the Hospital and
demanded to meet their daughter.
When it was found that the victim is physically fit and interested
to go back home, the family members
demanded to release her. As the
Hospital authority refused to
release the victim, the members of Civil Society Groups and family members sat on Dharana in front of Medicine Ward and continued for three demands for her release, as there was no treatment of her by the Doctors. However, the victim goes released on
27.11.18.
On 4.12.17, a 6-member
Fact-finding Team of Civil Society Group had visited Koraput and personally
interviewed with Kunduli Rape victim to
understand the genuineness of allegation of rape by her. The team documented her allegation
about police torture, harassment and
misbehaviour by District Child Protection Officer, Koraput during her
treatment and pressure mounted on her to
withdraw her allegation .
On 29.12.17, A state-level
Public Hearing on “Status
of Alleged Rape cases and Situation of Rape Victims in Odisha” was organised in
Bhubaneswar presided over by eminent personalities of the State Justice
Hrudaya Ballav Das, retired CBI Judge, Sri Prasanna Mishra, retired IAS,
Sri Rabi Das, eminent journalist and Smt. Aparna Nayak, woman Activist as
Jury member with participation of 200
Activists. Kunduli Rape Victim along with other seven
Rape victims presented their story ,
torture by the police, suffering and straggle for justice.
Being seriously perturbed over suicidal death
of victim girl on 22.1.18, the
Civil Society Groups reacted strongly accusing the Govt. responsible for her
death and organised
protest dharana at Lower PMG ,
Bhubaneswar on
23.1.18 demanding CBI inquiry
into it. A large number of common people
joined with us and expressed solidarity
in our fight for giving justice to her.
On 25.1.18, the
Civil Society organisations
conducted Dharana and Rally
at disctrict headquarters like Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Rayagada
, Mayurbhanj demanding CBI inquiry into
it.
On 30.1.18, one-day hunger strike
was observed in front of statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Park, Bhubaneswar. More than 50
Activists and concerned citizens
observed fastinf for the whole day
resolving to fight for justice.
On 2.2.18, a 12-member
Civil Society Groups had visited
Musaguda to attend 11th
day ritual of death of Kunduli Rape
Victim and interacted with bereaved family
members giving them moral boost to fight
for justice.
On 3.2.18, Mahadeepa was
ignited in front of Jagannath Temple, Puri
praying to destroy the family who
conspired to suppress the investigation and denied justice to the victim.
On 4.2.18, the Report of
Public Hearing documented story of 7 rape victims and recommendation of Jury was
presented in email to Chief
Minister, Odisha, Director General of Police,
Odisha seeking an inquiry
into these cases.
On 7.2.18, a Two-member Team Smt.
Sanjukta Panigrahi and Srikant Pakal met
Inquiry team of NHRC at Koraput and
submitted memorandum appraising the team about conspiracy and failure of State police to conduct proper investigation.
On
8.2.18, the emergency meeting of Civil Society
Groups was called to chalk out quick action plan to fight for justice for the
victim. It was resolved to organise
Indefinite Hunger strike demanding Supreme Court-monitored CBI/SIT inquiry into Kunduli rape case.
On 12.2.18 onwards, the Civil Society Groups have started indefinite hunger strike at Lower PMG, Bhubaneswar demanding Supreme Court-monitored CBI/SIT inquiry into Kunduli rape case and legal action
against the investigating officers involved in suppressing investigation into rape cases and mysterious death of kasturi Samantaray of Kendrapara district,
Barsha Patra of jajpur district. Smt.
Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kalanadi Mallik, Dalit Activist and Pratap Sahu have sat on hunger strike for indefinite
period.
Report Prepared by Pradip Pradhan,
M-9937843482
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