Struggle of a Poor Mother to get justice for her daughter who was raped and Odisha police protecting the Culprits- A Pathetic Story

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 of the 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 10^th 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 Biju Janata 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.

  

Documented by

Pradip Pradhan on behalf of Public Hearing

M-9937843482