The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has lashed out at the Odisha police over its alleged failure and negligence to rescue a minor girl trafficked from Rourkela to Rajasthan.
DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal questioned the efficiency of Odisha police even though an FIR lodged by the victim’s father.
“A 16-year-old girl, who was missing from 2017 from Rourkela in Odisha, was rescued by the DCW on Feb 5 from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. She was sold for Rs 4 lakh by her sister and brother-in-law. When the DCW can rescue the girl in a day, what Odisha police was doing for one and a half year. The girl was repeatedly raped by a 40-year-old man and she is nine-month pregnant now,” said Maliwal in a Press conference at New Delhi on Friday.
She alleged that Odisha police are involved in the racket.
“The Odisha police completely involved in the entire process and racket. The father of the victim had been requesting the police and different authorities in Odisha over a year. Even the victim was rescued by the Odisha police and the Child Welfare Committee had ordered to hand over the girl to her parents. However, the police again sent the girl to Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan,” she added.
“Even as the DCW has no jurisdiction to initiate steps to rescue the girl, we took up the case on humanitarian ground to help the victim’s father. Immediately, a team of DCW rushed to Jhunjhunu and rescued the minor girl,” the DCW chairperson said.
She urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for stern action against the erring police personnel allegedly involved in women trafficking.
“She urged the Odisha Government to provide compensation to the victim and take initiative for her rehabilitation.
The girl is currently in custody of DCW. However, Maliwal refused to send the victim to Odisha till she gets complete assurance of safety of the girl.