The ghastly minor girl rape incident, which occurred at Jatni on Wednesday night, triggered strong protests by different political parties, women’s forums and common people at large on Friday.
Hundreds of women activists belonging to various forums gheraod the Jatni Police Station demanding that the case be heard in a Fast-Track Court soon.
In the city, Congress women activists staged a silent protest at Master Canteen Square demanding stringent action against the culprit. A team headed by PCC vice-president Bijayalaxmi Sahu went to the Capital Hospital met the girl. The team advised hospital authorities to provide all facilities to the victim till her recovery.
Besides, they wanted that the Government put her in a residential school soon after her recovery. In a Statement, BJP State president Basanta Panda termed the incident as highly condemnable and heartrending. He said his party would hold protest meetings across the State from Saturday.
“Women are not safe in State now. While the Chief Minister is in charge of providing security to people, many ghastly incidents have occurred. This too much and unbearable,” stated Panda.
He slammed the State Government for not opening women cells in any of police stations in the State.
The Samajawadi Party wrote a letter to the Chairperson of the National Council for Protection of Child Rights to visit the nine-year-old rape victim at the Capital Hospital and take stock of child violence in the State that has erupted in recent days.
He mentioned that the girl was inhumanly lifted away from his house and barbarously raped by a habitual criminal.
“The ghastly attack is just an example of rapid child violence taking place in the State,” Behera said in the letter.
Behera requested the Chairperson to direct the State Government to pay compensation of `10 lakh to the victim’s family.
Similarly, Utkal Bharat condemned the sexual attack on the tiny girl.
“The heinous rape of a nine year old girl in Jatni is barbaric and unbecoming of a civilized society. The BJD Government’s liquor policy has helped the worsening of the situation,” said the party in a statement. A team of the party comprising vice-president Benudhar Samant, secretary Banajabasini Tripathy and party’s youth wing president Jagadish Pradhan too visited the survivor at the Capital Hospital on the day.
Besides, State Commission for Women lopamudra Buxipatra visited the girl.
“The Commission will hold a discussion with the police and advice for early filing of a chargesheet in a Fast-Track Court,” Buxipatra sad.
DCP Satryabrata Bhoi said the investigation has been expidated and steps are on to file a chargesheet at the earliest.