The report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Kunduli gang-rape and suicide case, which was tabled in the State Assembly on Saturday and which has given clean chit to the Government, has attracted sharp reactions from opposition party leaders.
While the report of the judicial commission headed by the Koraput District and Sessions Court Judge has not made it clear whether the girl was raped and the reason behind her suicide, leaders of the Congress and the BJP have alleged that the State Government tried to suppress the case from its very beginning.
“Witnesses were stage-managed to suppress the case. Manipulations were done in investigations,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik.
BJP State general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan alleged that the Government had been trying to make the investigation directionless from the very beginning. “The incident should be probed afresh properly,” said Harichandan.
BJP leader and former MP Kharabela Swain wanted to know why the report was not tabled in the State Assembly for over a year since it was submitted to the Government. “The Government submitted the report only after the High Court asked for a SIT probe into the matter,” remarked Swain.
But BJD MLA Shashi Bhushan Behera said, “The State Government had set up a commission to conduct investigation into the matter. Now, the probe panel’s report has been tabled in the Assembly. It is not wise to raise questions over the report.”
Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick said the matter should not be discussed further. “If the commission has recommended for further investigation, it will be done. There is no point making further discussions on the commission’s report,” said Mallick.