The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday issued conditional summons to the Bhadrak district Collector to submit necessary documents in the minor girl gang-rape case within six weeks.
The girl had reportedly been gang-raped in the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office three years ago.
The NHRC issued this notice on rights activist Radharkant Tripathy’s additional submission that alleged casual approach adopted by the Collector in the case.
While the Collector, in his report, stated that the statement of the victim had been recorded u/s 164 CrPC and the medical examination report of the victim received, the commission observed and directed, “It is noticed that the Medical Officer has reserved his opinion subject to availability of the chemical examination of other reports. The Collector is directed to furnish the final medical opinion of the doctor, who examined the victim within six weeks and a copy of the same be transmitted to the complainant for his comments, if any.”
Earlier, the complainant had stated that the State provided ambiguous medical report. He also pointed out that while the victim had described her plight in her statement, how the matter can be compromised by her father without a conclusive medical report.
The report of the CDPO, Bhandaripokhari had admitted that night watchman Prashant Behera had opened the office on a holiday on March 24, 2013 where the alleged incident had taken place. He has also been disengaged from the job by the CDPO.
The joint report submitted by the CDPO, DSP and Additional Sub-Collector stated that the victim’s father Amulya Swain was mentally distressed and that the matter had been settled on mutual understanding.
It shows that the victim’s father might have been pressurized or compelled by the accused to settle the crime by compromise, Tripadhy said.