Thursday, January 11, 2018

Blatant failure of police to investigate into Rape and Mysterious Death of Kasturi, Student of Kendrapara district

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  of Public Hearing on Status of Alleged Rape cases and Situation of Rape Victims in Odisha”  held in Bhubaneswar on 29.12.17 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  to her  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  Satyabrata 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.  

In the meantime, after Public Hearing and expose of media  about police negligence,   a Crime Branch Team  had visited  residence of  Victim on 8.1.18  and started investigation.

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 11.1.18


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