The Bhadrak SP has admitted before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that a tenth class girl was gangraped in the office of a Child Development Officer in the district.
The two accused have been arrested but no compensation has been paid to the victim, he told to the NHRC on being put on notice by the latter. Considering the report of the SP, the NHRC sought a rejoinder from rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, a petitioner in the case. In the rejoinder, Tripathy mentioned that the facts submitted by the State administration admit in clear terms that the rape was committed in the office of the office of the Child Development Project Officer at Bhandaripokhari. The night watchman who works on adhoc basis along with another miscreant was present in the office on March 24 at 2 pm.
The rape has been confirmed by a medical examination and the victim girl is a minor. The investigation is not yet complete. He further mentioned that the case was serious since a minor girl was raped in a Government office in broad daylight in a holiday. The lapses on part of the officials are questionable. Tripathy lamented that the victim had not so far provided any psycho-social counseling to cross the trauma she suffered. “No compensation has been paid to her so far.
There is a concept of victim compensation fund for better administration of justice. Mere arrest of accused persons and putting them behind the bars does not complete the responsibility of a welfare State,” said Tripathy. He requested the NHRC to direct the State to provide psycho-social counseling to the victim and complete investigation and finish the trial at the earliest, besides paying adequate compensation to the victim.