After recommending a probe by the CBI into the murder of Tikiri UP School teacher Itishree Pradhan, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday recommended for suspension of Rayagada Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP), besides initiation of proceedings against them as per law for their inaction over the complaint of the victim.
“The two-member NCW Inquiry Committee comprising Hemlata Kheria and Manasi Pradhan, after taking into account all evidences, records and statements, is of the opinion that both the Rayagada District Collector and the SP are guilty of serious dereliction of duty, leading to the killing of the lady teacher,” said the NCW report.
It is indeed surprising what led the State Government to let off the Collector and the SP who are definitely guiltier than anyone else in their official capacity and given their singular responsibility for overlooking the repeated pleas of the victim for her safety leading to the incident, the report pointed.
The report stated that though the victim in her letter dated July 29 last to the Collector categorically pleaded for safety of her life, in face of a serious threat of rape and murder from school SI Netrananda Dandasena, yet instead of arranging for the security of the victim, keeping in view such grievous threat, the Collector choose to overlook the entire matter. On the contrary, he ordered a routine inquiry into sexual harassment of the victim by the School SI with a mandate to submit a report in three months’ time.
Holding the SP equally responsible of overlooking such serious threat to the life of the victim, the Commission further stated that he had even failed to arrange even minimal security for the victim despite her repeated pleading and was responsible for some serious lapses in the conduct of the district police leading to the brutal killing of the innocent woman.
In her third FIR filed with the Tikiri police station on August 16 against the accused school SI Dandasena’s brother and nephew Narendra Dandasena and Brundaban Dandasena, the victim had alleged that both the accused approached her near the Tikiri school and threatened her to withdraw her FIR against the school SI or else face dire consequences.
But despite such serious charges against both the accused, why did the district police fail to take any action, asked the Commission.