The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the SP and Collector of Kandhamal to submit a status report in connection with a sexual assault case.
The perpetrator who was a cook of the lingagad Primary School hostel under G Udayagiri police station limits had molested two minor ST girls on February 4 last.
The panel’s directive came in response to a petition filed by noted social activist and lawyer Prabir Kumar Das. Das had said that accused Kunja Behari Nayak, after sexually assaulting the two minor girl students during the Saraswati Puja celebration, had threatened them not to reveal the matter.
However, the two girls later reported the matter to the school headmistress who submitted a written complaint to the welfare extension officer.
The police later arrested the accused after an FIR was registered at the G Udayagiri police station on February 26. Following the incident, Das had sought the intervention of the Commission for appropriate direction.
Acting on the directive of the Commission, Kandhamal SP had submitted a report along with an inquiry report by the SDPO, G. Udayagiri. It was mentioned in the report that the investigation had been entrusted to a woman sub inspector.
The Commission later received a report from the district Collector, who had mentioned that the district administration had taken steps for protection of girl students in hostels in tribal localities. After going through the reports, the Commission directed the Kandhamal SP to submit a report on the status of the investigation into the case. It also directed the Collector to submit a report on any financial assistance paid to the victims and any other kind of help offered to the victim. The commission expressed its displeasure at the way the authorities have investigated the case.