The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed its displeasure and directed the Bhadrak Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) to make further inquiry into the incident of a minor girl being gangraped at the Office of the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) on March 24 (Sunday) last year.
The NHRC passed the direction in continuation of the proceedings on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.In the first hearing, the NHRC sought an action taken report (ATR) from the district Collector and SP.
Pursuant thereto, the SP had submitted a report on April 28, 2013 which stated that the two accused persons called the victim (lopamudra Swain) through the backside window of the office, asking her to bring water. When she came to the office with water, the duo forcibly took her into the office room and raped her one after another. On the complaint of victim, an FIR was registered at Bhandaripokhari police station and the case was pending investigation after arrest of the duo.
In his rejoinder, Radhakanta stated that the rape was committed in the Government office on a holiday. The victim was not provided with any psycho social counselling for the trauma and compensation.Pursuant to the directions of the Commission, the Collector has forwarded a joint report of District Child Protection Officer, DSP and Assistant Sub-Collector. As per the report, in crime number 53 of 2013 u/s 376(g), 506 IPC and Section 4 of the POCSO Act, 2012, a charge-sheet was submitted against the accused persons to the court.
The Special Judge, Bhadrak had acquitted the accused persons of the charges framed against them as the father of the victim stated that the matter has been settled on mutual understanding.However, the NHRC felt that the victim's father might have been pressurised or compelled by the accused to settle the crime by compromise and asked the Collector and SP to make further enquiry in the matter.