Public
Hearing on “Status of Alleged Rape cases and
Situation of Rape Victims in Odisha” – A Report
Venue: Lohia Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Date- 29.12.2017
Since few years, Odisha has witnessed a rising trend of
crimes like rape and molestation on woman, and offense against
tribal, dalit and children due to negligence of police either
to register the FIRs of victim or/and undertake to have proper
inquiry in order to take prompt measures to nab the culprits. In many
cases, the investigative agency is seen to derail and dilute investigation
after being pressurised by the people at the top. In the name of
investigation, the police has threatened and tortured the victims and compelled
them to withdraw the allegation. The poor victims suffer from
humiliation, mental trauma and social exclusion and could not voice out their
protest against the police. They run from pillar to post to get
justice, but there is no effect.
The recent incident, a Dalit
girl from Kunduli village of Koraput Dist. has become rape
victim by Cobra Para-Military force and a rape of Kasturi
Samantaray, a school teacher consequent death as alleged by her
parents in Kendrapara district aretwo bright examples in
questions ofthe police. It seems their intention of
masterminded to suppress the facts and dilute the
investigations. Media has also highlighted how Kunduli Rape victim has been
humiliated and tortured by the police to pressurize to withdraw the statement
made on the rape by Cobra Police. Similarly, the parents of
Kasturi were bribed by Kendrapara district administration to withdraw the
allegation. Many women employees have also filed allegation of being lured
and molested by Govt. officials. Many poor Dalit girls have been raped and
sexually exploited in remote pockets of the state whose voice of protest has
not reached at appropriate authority or suppressed by local police. The case of
constant rape of a disable girl in Sisuapada village under Deland block of Puri
district and given birth to an illegitimate child has not been investigated by
the police of Deland police station.
Under this backdrop, a Public Hearing was organised by Civil Society
Groups with the objective of providing platform to rape victims and their
relatives to speak about their allegation and as well as humiliation and mental
trauma sufferance by them, the status of police investigation and
justice if any delivered to them and their continuing struggle for
justice. We have identified a few cases of allegation of rapes
and how the police have allowed the criminals’ scot
free. The public hearing
was organised under the aegis of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights, CACL, Odisha and Civil Society Group,
Bhubaneswar atLohia Academy Bhubaneswar on 29.12.17. The Jury members were Justice Hrudaya Ballav
Das, Retired CBI Judge, Sri Prasanna Kumar Mishra, retired IAS, Sri Rabi Das,
senior journalist and Mrs. AparnaNayak, Woman Activist. Around 200 woman activists, NGOs, advocates,
intellectuals, journalists, RTI Activists had attended the public hearing and
shared their views with the victims. Smt. SanjuktaPanigrahi, renowned Woman
Activist and Sri Akhand, Huamn Rights Activist had coordinated the Public
hearing.
The presentation made by Rape Victims and the girls
sexually exploited and harassed by the Govt. officials and the people close to
powerful people is as follows.
1. Ahuti Mohanty, Khunta, Mayurbhanj
Miss Ahuti Mohanty , aged
24, D/O-
Chitta Ranjan Mohanty, At/Post- Bayalamara, Via- Bahanada, PS- Khunta ,
Dist-Mayurbhanj presented before
Jury of Public Hearing about her unstinted fight against
sexual exploitation, torture and
assault by powerful people. The whole
house got mum for few minutes having heard her ordeal, suffering and struggle
for justice. Brought up in a poor middle class family, Ahuti uses to write poem
in Odia daily newspaper. Her poem drew attention ofMr. Rajesh Pravakar Patil, the then Collector of
Mayurbhanj district who calledvAhuti to his residence office and
appreciated her poem. On request of
Ahuti, he agreed to give her a job. On 31.10.15, Ms. Ahuti Mohanty was
appointed as a temporary Tutor in Gopabandhu Balashram, Baripada with a nominal
remuneration of Rs. 3000.00 per month. She joined in service on 1.11.15. After
few days, the Collector called her to his chamber and appraised her to stayin
the hostel of said Balashram. Though reluctant, she was forced to stay in
hostel to look after the pupil. During course of her stay at Balashram, it came
to her knowledge that the pupils are exploited and tortured in the said unit.
Innutritious food is served. The officials on visit to the said school exploit
the girls in an inebriated state of mind under the influence of liquor. After
seeing all such nefarious activities committed to the students, she could not
tolerate but informed the same to the Collector repeatedly. But without taking
any steps, the Collector asked her to mind in her own work and assured her to make her job permanent and
asked her to accompany him to different places with evil design. On the
other hand she also noticed
that Dayasindhu Parida, Deputy Collector visited
the said Ashram in late hours of
night on several occasions and pleaded her virginity
to satiate his sexual appetite. He had also asked her many times
sexual favour. But she restrained her from such ideas. But the
Deputy Collector used to send vulgar
and sex message to her mobile
(9439311433) from his mobile
(9861140619). As she could not fall in their trap, they conspired to
oust her from service. They engaged subordinate staffs to defame herpublicly so
that no one could give any attention to herallegation.
One day she discovered
Sitanshu, driver of Superintendent of Police, Mayurbhanj approaching her to help
to file FIR against officials and succeeded in building confidence to fight for
justice. But in the name of helping me,
Sitanshu and Manish, Personal Security Officer were beaten up and tortured her
in the office of Police Sanghusing slang language. Later, she came to know that
they were engaged by Collector to harass her.
Then Ahuti filed complaint to SP, Mayurbhanj against the driver and
Collector and Deputy Collector who had hatched conspiracy against her. SP
ordered Manas Mohanty, R.I. to enquire into the matter. But Sri Mohanty did not
conduct any inquiry rather the driver Sitanshu threatened to murder her. Then
on 23.2.2016,she
filed a F.I.R against the Collector, Deputy Collector and driver Sitanshu. But
the Inspector In-Charge, Baripada Town police station refused to receive the
FIR. Thereafter, the officials engaged many people to torture Ahuti physically,
mentally, a lot. On 21.6.16, the District officials managed to file FIR against
Ahuti by Anuradha Das, Marten, Gopabandhu Balashram who complained upon Ahuti
threatening to murder her. Interestingly, the police immediately registered FIR under section
294,341,386,506,500 of IPC corresponding to G.R.Case No. 722 of 2016 pending in
the court of S.D.J.M., Baripadaand started enquiry to arrest Ahuti.
Ahuti got absconding to avoid arrest andsucceeding to get bail from Odisha High
Court on 30.6.16.
Whereas, she was fighting for
justice, BabitaKar and SatyaRanjanShamal of Friends Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswarmade
a call introducing them and assured her to fight for the justice. Believing
them, she arrived in Bhubaneswar on
23.6.17. They arranged her stay in a
Hotel on Cuttack Road, Bhubaneswar and helped her to file a case in the Court
of S.D.J.M. But later, they harassed her. On 27.8.16, she met Deputy Commissioner of Police,
Bhubaneswar and lodged complaint against them. Finding no result, on 13.9.16,
she filed FIR inMahila Police station, Bhubaneswar against them. The police
registered the case No. 175(4)/2016 under section 294/323/354/354(A)/354 (C),
of IPC. On
26.9.16, she also filed complaint to Police Commissioner,
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police Commissionerate seeking justice.
On 7.6.16, she filed complaint to
Chairperson, State Commission for Women, Odisha, Bhubaneswar seeking justice.
The case was registered as Case No.
MBJ/500/16. But she is yet to get justice from the Commission. On 1.10.16,she registered another complaint and
sent by post to the Chief Minister, Odisha seeking direction to Police for an
enquire into her allegation and malicious campaign going on in social media
against her.
On 15.4.17, Ahuti sent a complaint
to Prime Minister, India describing details of police inaction onher complaint
of sexual harassment and seeking justice. On 13.6.17, the Prime Minister office
issued notice to Chief Secretary, Odisha to enquire into the matter and take
appropriate action. On 2.8.17, the Dept. of General Administration and
Pubic Grievances sent a letter to Home Dept. to take action on the complaint of
Ahuti Mohanty received from Prime Minister. On 29.8.17, the Home Dept. directed the
DG and IG police, Odisha and Superintendent of Police, Mayurbhanj to enquire
into her matter. On 8.12.17, the Project Director, DRDA, Baripada issued letter
to Ahuti Mohanty to attend the said enquiry on 22.12.17 in his office chamber. She
gave her statement in the query. Nothing
has happened till yet. She is still struggling to get justice.
2.
Kunduli Rape Victim of
Koraput district
Kunduli rape victim along with
her mother presented the whole incidence of how she was raped by Cobra
Para-military force, failure of police to investigate into her allegation and conspiracy
of the district administration to dilute case, police torture and harassment
faced by her during her treatment. Her
presentation before Jury is as follows:
“On 10.10.17, she had been to Kunduli
market to take her photograph required for Caste certificate. On her return to
home at Lenjiguda Ghati , four Cobra Para-Military forcibly took her
inside forest, tore her clothes
and gang raped her. During that time she
lost her sense. Then, after some time
she recovered her sense and returned to home. She met Bada Ma (wife of elder
brother of Father) and appraised her about rape. She carried her to home. Immediately her mother took her to Kunduli
Primary Health Centre by auto rickshaw at around 12 o’clock. After first-hand
treatment, the doctor immediately referred me to District Head quarter Hospital
for more treatment, as my condition was serious. After being admitted in
Koraput hospital, the police and District Child Protection Officer reached in
the hospital. I was feeling ill and
could not walk properly. The doctor started medical treatment. On the same day,
the police interrogated me throughout night and persuaded me to
say “the police had not raped but the local people
might have raped me”. Every time, the police officers, Inquiry
officers were pressurising me not to tell that you were raped. During my treatment and stay in hostel, the
investigating officers were pressuring me to withdraw the allegations. Though I was requesting to meet my family
members, they were not allowing me to meet them. Similarly, the family members were also not
allowed to meet me, as told by my aunty who forcibly entered into my room and
discussed with me about my health problem. I was not getting satisfied the way
the treatment was going on.
One-day (she could not recall
the date), a police team carried me from hospital to the spot of incidence of
rape without giving any food and then after spot verification, I was brought to
office of Child Welfare Committee. Then I was carried to Hostel at Jeypore and
Child Development Protection Officer (CDPO) left me alone there. It was 11
PM. CDPO has misbehaved me several times
and threatened me. I was not given food
throughout the day. I suffered from
stomach problem due to hunger. When I
complained about it, I was given tablet and asked to take in empty
stomach. I could not sleep in the night,
as I had not taken any food. On next day, my condition became critical and I
was admitted in Jeypore medical by police.
I was humiliated by the police on the way to hospital. They told me that
I was pretending and telling lie against Cobra police. I was provided with
lunch at 3 PM. I was not allowed to talk
with my family in the hospital, though my family members made desperate
attempts to meet me. Then after being discharged from Hospital, I was carried
to Salam Hostel, Dumurput, Koraput. In
hostel, a police team persuaded me to tell that the Cobra police had not raped
me. Then we will release you. One day ADG police ( Mahendra Pratap, Additional Director General of Police, Human Rights
Protection Cell, Govt. of Odisha ) along with a police team also met me
at night and enquired to know the incident. I told everything. He persuaded me
repeatedly not to tell name of Cobra, but to write names of four local people
as in a plain paper provided by him.
They also tried to give me money amounting Rs. 90,000.00 as bribe to
withdraw the allegation. He pressurised me time and
again to write four names of local people. I brought paper from his hand and
wrote ADG, SP, IIC. He got angry and tore it and left the room.
On 18.11.17, I was carried to S.C.B. Medical, Cuttack
and admitted on 19.11.17. I was tied with bed in ICU of New Medicine
Block. The doctors took my signature in plain paper for the reasons best known
to them. In medical, I was completely OK and physically fit. I persuaded doctor
to allow me to go home. I do not want to stay here. I do not require any
treatment. They were not allowing me to
talk anybody, rather tortured me mentally. I was kept under surveillance like
an accused in medical. I got hope when
my mother met me in hospital. Though my mother met me in hospital, I was not
allowed to share anything, as the lady police officer stood by us. I requested
my mother to take me from this hospital. On 27.11.17 when I was discharged from medical at
2 PM, I was escorted by police and not allowed to meet anyone. I could not
understand why the police was escorting me all the times and did not allow me
to meet anybody. Though the police
didn’t like my mother & aunt to be with me, yet they were forced to allow
my mother and aunty to accompany me in the vehicle. On the way, the police
forcibly took out the mobile from my
mother. We reached at Hostel, Chhapar of Koraput at 12 pm. I was kept there in
the night. On 28.11.17, I was carried to be produced before Child Welfare
Committee, Koraput and got released from clutches of devils.
Statement of Mother of Kunduli Victim
Whenever we have tried to meet
our daughter, the police have not allowed us. Even in S.C.B. Medical, Cuttack
where my daughter was undergoing treatment, I was not allowed to spend few
times with her. Whenever I met her in
medical for few minutes after due approval of the authority, I was surrounded by the police and other
medical staff and our interaction is also monitored by the police. She was being tortured by the police, DCPO
and Medical staff several times in the name of treatment. Though my daughter has made repeated appeals
to go home, she was forcibly kept under police surveillance. She has been
persuaded and pressurised by the police to tell that she was not raped. However despite torture, mental harassment,
my daughter has not bowed down to their pressure. My question is- if my daughter was not raped,
what treatment was goingon and why she was kept under police protection’. The
administration had hatched conspiracy to kill my daughter in order to save
Cobra police, as she is the only witness to her allegation of rape. In S.C.B.
Medical, the doctors have conspired to admit her in mental ward declaring her a
psychiatric patient. Had she been
admitted, they could have easily made her mad.
But due to our timely intervention, we succeeded in releasing her from
Medical. When CWC, Koraput released my daughter, I was asked
to give an undertaking that I would take care of my children and would be responsible for any untoward incident, if any happened
to my daughter. While releasing my daughter, CWC, Koraput has put a lot of conditions which are not
acceptable to me. But I was forced to
sign just to get my daughter released from their control. One of the
conditions imposed by CWC was
that without permission of
CWC, the parents cannot take
their daughter out of the
jurisdiction of CWC. Now my daughter is
fine and now she will fight for her justice.
3.
Revenue Inspector of
Kanas Tahasil , Puri
This case was presented by Pradip Pradhan, Human Rights Activist
before Jury, as the victim, a Dalit and Govt. employee presently
serving as Revenue Inspector under Gop Tahasil
of Puri district had refused to be
publicly exposed and present her
ordeal.
The Victim
was working as Revenue Inspector in Badas Circle under Kanas Tahasil of Puri
district. On 23.3.16, she had gone to Kanas Tahasil for official work. On that day, Sri Umakant Bal, senior clerk
used very slang language against her
while appraising Tahasildar about her presence in the office. When she wanted to know about the reason,
SriBal got enraged and displayed very rude behaviour with casteist remarks
against her. She also gave a push on her chest which has been recorded in CCTV
camera. She was humiliated and on her
way back to home, made a call to Sri
Sanjay Pratihari, Tahasilar, Kanas. Tahasildar did not respond.
Prior to this incident, Sri Bal and Tahasildar had misbehaved her several times
and displayed sexual remarks and compelling her to work in Tahasiloffice even
up to 9 PM with much harassment and humiliation. It is to be mentioned here that since her
joining, Sri Bal had been adopting various tricks to get closer and lure her
for sexual benefit. He had also advised
her to get closer to Tahasildar and could take any benefits from him.
However, after getting humiliated
and harassed with sexual
remarks, at first she along with her mother went to meet
Sri Madhusudan Das , Sub-Collector, Puri
and filed complaint
against Sri Umakant Bal and Tahasildar. He assured her to solve the matter within 3
days but did not take any steps till 6.4.2016. On
7.4.16, the Victim personally met the Collector, Puri
and filed Complaint seeking an inquiry and quick action against
the culprits. On 17.4.2016, she filed
complaint to Dr. Sarthak Sarangi, SP, Puri seeking an inquiry and action
against perpetrators of crime. Nothing happened. No inquiry conducted. Rather
both of them supported to Tahasildar. 25.4.17, she wrote a letter to the Chief Minister,
Odishaa appraising him about details of incident and sexual harassment caused
to her and prayed for action against both Tahasildar and Head Clerk. On same
day, she filed complaint to Odisha Human Rights Commission, National
Commission for Women, New Delhi, State Commission for Women, national
Commission for Scheduled Caste and
National Human Rights Commission, seeking an inquiry into it.
In the meantime, OHRC has closed the case on the
basis of report produced by SP, Puri. NHRC had issued to Human Rights
Protection Cell, Cuttack, Govt. of Odisha for inquiry. Though HRPC conducted an inquiry, the inquiry
report has not yet been submitted to NHRC, New Delhi. She had also filed RTI to
get CD of recording of CCTV Camera which was denied to her. Now she had been
transferred to GOP Tahasil, Puri and still struggling toget justice.
4.
Rape victim of Sisuapada village under Delang block of Puri
district
While displaying bunch of
papers, Bebina Jena, Mother of Rape victim presented before Jury in a Public
Hearing, held in Bhubaneswar on 29.12.17.
About her disable minor daughter being raped, inaction of
the police and her struggle for justice. She said that her daughter, aged 15 years
is reading in 10th Class of Barada Babalpur High School. On 29.6.2017, her daughter complained of
being suffering from stomach pain. Then she carried her to hospital and after
medical examination, the doctor confirmed that she is pregnant. Then she asked
her daughter about it. She said that one day while she was returning from the
school; Ramesh Ch. Martha of Balihankar village raped her in a lonely place
(near Mango tree, Balihunka) nearby river bed.
Ramesh threatened her not to disclose it to anybody. Out of fear, the victim did not share us
about this incident. As she recalled, Ramesh had raped her thrice on her way
back to home. Then she developed pregnancy.
On 30.6.17, she formally filed
FIR in Delang police station seeking arrest of the culprits. The Delang police
station registered the case under section 376 (2) (i) (n) /506 of IPC
and under section 6 of POSCO Act. But the police remained silence and did
not undertake investigation. On 21.7.17, her daughter delivered an illegitimate
child. Finding police inaction, she made a complaint to Superintendent of
Police, Puri on 25.7.17. About Delang police conspiring to cover up the
investigation and protecting the culprits.
Now, the family of the accused are threatening them to withdraw the case
and the police supporting them. On 28.7.17, she approached State Commission for Women, Odisha, Bhubaneswar
to get justice and on 1.9.17, she has
also filed complaint to Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(OSCPCR), Bhubaneswar seeking an enquiry into it. Though 4 months have passed, the police has failed to nab the culprits.
In the meantime, the police has allowed to the culprits to move to High Court to get advance bail.
She also alleged that as the culprit is associated with BijuJanata Dal, the police could not
take any steps to arrest him. In the
meantime, she had met SP, Puri thrice to get justice, but in vain.
5.
Rape Victim of Raj Sunakhela of Nayagarh district
As Pratima Nayak(M- 7749962942),
mother of Rape Victim could not come to attend the Public Hearing, Mrs.
Sharmila Nayak, President of State Woman
Unit of Republic Party of India, on
behalf of the victim presented the
issue how the police mishandled the investigation and misbehaved the victim in the police station.
The victim, aged 20, belongs to Scheduled Caste Community of Chhanapali Patna
village of Surugabali Panchayat of Ranpur block under Nayagarh district. When she had gone to latrine in night on
30.11.17, Sushant Nayak of that village took her inside a dilapidated house and
raped her. After hearing from daughter, Pratima Nayak informed the villager
leaders about it and sought the support
to resolve it. Finding no justice from
the villagers, he lodged FIR against the accused sushant Nayak and his father,
Gadadhar Nayak and elder brother in Rajsunakhela Outpost on 3.12.17. But the Sub-Inspector refused to receive the
FIR and misbehaved her. However, on
4.12.17, the Sub-Inspector registered FIR (Case no. 303/2017) but did not conduct any query. On 5.12.17,Pratima along with her daughter
met SP, Nayagarh and filed complaint against the police inaction. After intervention of SP, the police
undertook medical examination of victim and started inquiry by visiting the
place of incidence. But the accused Sushant Nayak got absconding from the
village. The police could not arrest
anybody rather facilitated father and brother to get bail from High Court. The victim is still fighting for justice.
6. Rape and Mysterious Death of
Kasturi Samantaray, a 10th Class Student of Kendrapara district
Supriya samantaray and Bibhuti
Samantaray, Parents of Kasturi Samantaray, Rape victim who died under mysterious circumstance presented before
Jury about rape of their
daughter in the school premises
and conspiracy of the police to
cover up the case and their relentless struggle to get justice.
Kasturi was the student of 10th
Class of Rukuni Devi High School, Adagaon village under Indol Gram Panchayat of
Derabisi block. She was meritorious student and Sportsman. On 22nd
Sept.17, she was carried by her sports teacher to Rajendra Narayan High School,
Rajkanika to attend the Annual Sports festival.
On 23rd Sept., kasturi returned with the Sports Teacher toher
house. The parents found her mentally
imbalance and wanted to know from her about the reason. She shared how she was raped in the night and
said that she did not want to live. On
the next day, she started vomiting and the parents carried her to Kendrapara
hospital where the doctor declared her dead.
But though the dead body was kept ready for
post-mortem, Doctor Nihar Ranjan Praharaj getting a phone call refused to
conduct post-mortem. Everybody present in the hospital got astonished and
suspected conspiracy behind it. Then,
her dead body was carried to S.C.B Medical, Cuttack for Post-Mortem. But astonishingly, the Post-Mortem report has
not been submitted to them.
It
deserves to be mentioned here that Satya brata Sahu, peon of District Education
Officer was caught in compromising position in night at 2 pm and he was also
beaten up. It was reported to DEO in the night. But the authority of R.N. High
School did not file any complaint in local police station. They tried to cover
it up and send the girl to her village.
Alleging death of their
daughter due to rape, the parents lodged FIR in local police station. But the police did not conduct any inquiry
rather tried to suppress it. Then, the
parents met Collector and SP of Kendrapara and requested them to arrest the
culprits and give them justice. But the while district administration sat over
complaint and tried to dilute the case giving an impression that death of
Kasturi is natural death. In the
meantime, the Head Master of Rukuni Devi High School gave them Rs. 8000.00 as
bribe and requested them not to pursue the case. On 23rd Nov. a
massive rally and demonstration under banner of 20 Social Organisations was
organised in Kendrapara with participation of hundreds of people demanding
immediate arrest of the culprits. The parents also approached National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights, State Commission for Protection of
Child Rights, State Commission for Women by filling complaints seeking inquiry
into the matter. On 13.10.17, NCPCR had given direction to SP, Kendrapara to
enquire into the allegation and take action within 7 days. But though 3 months have passed, the
administration has not taken any steps to nab the culprits. The parents also attempted self-immolation in
front of residence of Chief Minister, Odisha. However, the police rescued and
assured them to give justice. They appealed to all the participants and Jury
members to cooperate them in their fight for justice.
7.
Death of Pravati ( Barsha)
Patra, Rape victim of Jajpur district
Akhaji Patra of Damodar Pur
village, Mother of Pravati Patra, a Dalit who was murdered allegedly after being
raped along with Biswanath Patra, Human
Rights Activist narrated before Jury
the police inaction into her complaint about mysterious death of her daughter
and her struggle for justice.
Her daughter was the student
of +3 Arts in Sukinda College of Jajpur district. On 24.8.17, in the early
morning, she had gone for tuition to nearby village. Few people saw her dead body at Nullah nearer
to their village. Within few hours, the police team reached on the spot,
carried the body for post-mortem and conducted inquiry. The parents alleged to the police that their
daughter had been murdered and demanded enquiry. But finding no response from the police after
waiting for 4 days, they formally lodged FIR in Sukinda police station. On 28.8.17, the police registered FIR as case
No. 68/2017. But the police did not
conduct any inquiry and tried to suppress it.
Then, the villagers and students of Sukinda College organised Road block
movement and blocked State High way connecting Kalinga Nagar. The Addl. SP, IIC of Kalinga Nagar Police
station and Sukinda police station reached on the spot and called all the
villagers for discussion. During
discussion, the parents alleged that Sri Sibu Soren, BJD worker close to Priti Ranjan
Ghadei, local MLA was in love affairs with our daughter. Sibu has murdered her daughter. The police assured them to take action. After few days, the police asked the parents
to receive Rs. 4, 00,000.00 from Tahasildar and not to pursue the case. The
parents refused to receive the same and along with Social Activists, Members of
Transgender Community and villagers met SP, Jajpur on 8.9.17 for inquiry into
alleged murder of Pravati Patra. Finding no action from SP, the parents
appraised DG, Police on 20.9.17 about police inaction and requested for inquiry
and give them justice. Now the local
police have threatened villagers to
withdraw complaint and not to pursue the matter. The police is also putting pressure on
parents time and again to withdraw the case.
They are still trying hard and pursuing the case to get the culprit
arrested and gets justice.
8.
Pre-planned Murder of Snehalata Chhatria, a Dalit girl of
Khaparakhol Block of Bolangir district
Sri Sangram Mallik, Dalit
Activist who had taken the case of Murder of Snehalata Chhatria had
presented before Jury the details of
incident, police inaction and struggle of Dalit Activists to fight out this
case and subsequent Crime Branch inquiry ordered by Govt.
Snehalata Chhatria is elder
daughter of Dalimba Chhatria of Sargipali village under Khaprakhol block of
Bolangir district. On 22.5.15, while she had been to take bath to a stream, she
could not return to home. After day-long thorough search, the villagers found
her dead body in a bush jungle. Her
body was found attacked with deadly weapons and her face disfigured with
pouring of acid. The private part of her
body including vagina was also attacked. The police seized
the dead body of Snehalata and
registered a case under section 363, 364,302,376(2) (i) of IPC and section 4 of POSCO Act ( Case No. 34/2015) and conducted inquiry. It was suspected that as Snehalata was
organising movement against illegal liquor business, the liquor mafias might
have murdered them. After seven days of the incident, on 29.5.17, a high-level
fact-finding Team had visited the spot to enquire into the matter. The Team had also met Bhanu Shankar Yadav,
IIC and Pradeep Mohapatra, SDPO, Patnagarh and discussed with them. The police had not reached any conclusion nor
arrested anybody. The Collector had given Rs. 5000.00 to the parents. The fact-finding team had demanded CBI
inquiry and award of 20 lakh compensation to the parents. However, there was
protest rally and demonstration in front of office of Collector, Bolangir on
19.6.15 and gherao of Assembly on 25.6.15. The police arrested two people in
this case. The State Govt. handed over this case for investigation to Crime
branch. The Crime Branch, Cuttack registered the case No.15 on 30.6.2015. As the police did not find charge sheet in
the court, the two accused released on bail on 2.11.15. The district administration had provided to the family of victim financial assistance
of Rs. 15,000.00 from Red Cross
Fund and
Gram Panchayat Rs.2000.00 and Rs. 2,81,250.00 as compensation under SC &ST ( prevention of Atrocity)
Act,1989. After one year of the incident, finding no improvement of
inquiry by Crime Branch, on 12.5.16,
Civil Society Organisations met
D.G. police and submitted memorandum
for CBI inquiry. On 10.6.16, the State Government released notification
for handing over the case to CBI. On
23.5.17, a Civil Society delegation met SP, CBI to discuss about progress of
investigation. It was found that no such
decision taken yet for investigation. Now a case has been filed in Odisha High
Court seeking CBI inquiry into it. Though two and half years have passed, the
investigation has been consciously diluted by Odisha police and the family of
victim struggling hard to get justice.
Reaction of the House
After presentation by the
Victims and their families, the representative of political parties, Human
Rights Activist and Woman Activists expressed their concern and condemned
inaction and negligence of the police to investigate the cases of such grave nature. Sri Biswa Mohan Mohanty, Spokesperson of
Congress criticised the Govt. for providing protection to the accused and diluting investigation and demanded CBI
inquiry into all rape and murder cases.
Due to inaction of the police, the culprits are encouraged to commit such crime
for which it is raising day by day. Sri
Dhirendra Panda, eminent Human Rights Activist spoke about failure of all
Commissions like Odisha Human Rights Commission, State Commission for Women and
State Child Rights Commission, Child Welfare Committee for their failure to
dispense justice to the victim. These
Commissions have miserably failed to perform their own duties and working to
satisfy the Govt. for the reasons best known to them. Other dignitaries Sri
Jiauddin Muhammad, Jyostna Rout, Tapan Mishra and many others condemned State
Govt. for its negligence to arrest the culprits and dilute the investigation.
They called for massive campaign and movement in the state forjustice to the
victim.
Recommendation of Jury
During presentation by victims
and their family members, the Jury members were putting a lot of questions
seeking clarification about their cases. After hearing these cases, the Jury
is of the view that all the
allegations / complaints presented are genuine
and substantiate police negligence
to investigate the cases properly and recommended to State Govt.
for constitution of SIT (Special Investigative Team) to
investigate into the matter and complete the same within stipulated time
period. The Jury members also recommended
that a team of Civil Society Groups should meet Chief Justice, Odisha
for taking these cases sou motto in order to give justice to the
victim. The Jury also thanked all the
participants and organisers for organising such public hearing to give justice
to innocent girls and Dalit families.
Report prepared by:
PradipPradhan SanjuktaPanigarhi Sri
Akhand
Human Rights Activist Human
Rights Activist Human
Rights Activist
M-9937843482 M- 9238598756 M- 7008816891
Sachikant Pradhan Pratap
Sahu Srikant
Pakal
Human Rights Activist Human
Rights Activist RTI
Activist
M- 8249164980 M-
8637238600 M-9338455092
