The Crime Branch police have taken prime accused Netrananda Dandasena in Tikiri Primary School teacher Itishree Pradhan’s murder case.
The woman was set ablaze while sleeping in a room at her school by unknown miscreant(s) on October 27 last in the district here after she had complained against her former school headmaster Dandsena of giving her sexual and mental harassment. She was being constantly threatened by her oppressor and his appointed goons.
Dandasena was brought to Cuttack by the Crime Branch for quizzing and getting a lead in the case so that the other perpetrators behind the heinous crime are nabbed. Though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered to nab the miscreant(s) who burnt Pradhan within 24 hours, the police were yet make any headway and nab the prime offender.
In the meantime, National Association Women Organisation (NAWO) State convener Pramila Swain and a member of the District Sexual Harassment Committee have released their inquiry report. Swain reaffirmed the statements and petitions of Itishree that the police, district administration and her higher authorities were callous despite she pleaded for protection from her oppressor. Her investigation revealed that Dandasena even terrorised the present school headmaster. Swain blamed the police, administration and ruling party politicians who were in connivance with Dandasena.
Swain also expressed concern over the paltry salary of teachers which is not even at par with the wage of an unskilled labourer and the insecure environment in which the women teachers stay in the vicinity of the school. She demanded stern action against all those involved in the case and a CBI inquiry. Besides, she also demanded dismissal of Dandasena, DI of schools and the police officers from service and an ex-gratia of `30 lakh to the family of Itishree.
State convener of Odisha Adibasi Manch Bidulata Huika, who is also a former member of District Sexual Harassment Committee, expressed that there had been violation of almost all the statutory requirements at all levels pertaining to Itishree’s harassment case. Though Itishree gave her complaint to the District Collector on July 28, the Sexual Harassment Committee gave its report on August 24.
The report reached the Collector on September 27 though the DSWO’s office is situated inside the Collectorate. The Collector then put up the report to DI of schools on October 13. So, at every stage, there were lapses and delays and violation of statutory requirements to protect a woman who badly needed safety. In spite of three FIRs filed by Itishree on July 18, 16 and August 30, the local police did not take the case seriously, Huika lamented.