Taking serious note of the inaction on the part of the Banarpal police station officials, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Angul Superintendent of Police. The NHRC issued notice after it received report of inaction in a case of attempt to rape and molestation of a married woman and sought a report from the SP within four weeks. The notice was issued after the Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain lodged a petition at the commission alleging that the Banarpal police station officials are yet to arrest the culprits involved in the molestation case. “Some local goons on March 10 misbehaved with a woman at Apartipur and even sexually assaulted her by forcibly entering her room while her husband, who happens to be a TTE working at Angul railway station, was away in a broad day light,” alleged Swain.
Swain in her petition stated that though the victim submitted a FIR at the Banarpal police station on March 10 but the same was registered on March 14. “The police are not taking action against the culprits due to the pressure of local MlA. Instead the police are mulling to lodge counter FIR in the case against the victim,” the petitioner pointed out. She urged the commission to take criminal legal action against the responsible police officials and immediate arrest of the culprits. Besides, she urged the apex human rights panel to ensure protection and adequate compensation to the victim.