Dissatisfied over the probe of the State Crime Branch into the murder of Tikiri schoolteacher Itishree Pradhan, who died after being set on fire by an unknown persons on November 14 night, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday recommended a CBI probe into the ghastly incident.
“Even after over 45 days to the incident, the Crime Branch has failed to trace the assailant who set the victim on fire and even failed to crack the conspiracy behind it. Even worse, the proceeding of the Crime Branch in this regard is discouraging enough to suggest any significant result in near future,” said a 320-page NCW report. The Commission further asked the State Chief Secretary with regard to its recommendation for a CBI probe and sought a reply within seven days.
Taking suo moto cognisance of several media reports regarding the Itishree incident, the NCW on November 9 constituted a two-member Inquiry Committee comprising Hemlata Kheria and Manasi Pradhan to investigate the incident.
The committee visited the victim’s native village and workplace and recorded statements of various persons.
The NCW further recommended that the State Government initiate exemplary action against the Rayagada district Collector and SP, investigation into inaction of the State machinery, independent and detailed probe of the victim’s oral statement naming the Chief Minister as being principally responsible for the brutal incident, fixing responsibility of officials engaged for women security, orientation of all police officials on women security, publication of a women’s citizen charter in all newspapers, a memorial to remember the exemplary spirit of the victim, besides asking the Government to lay the NCW report in the State Assembly as per Section 10 (3) of the NCW Act 1990.