Expressing deep concern over rise in cases of rape of minor girls in the State, Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra on Friday demanded in the Assembly that cadre-based Public Prosecutors (PPs) and Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs) be appointed soon so that conviction rate in such cases would be increased and crimes would be checked in a big way.
Mishra raised the issue soon after SC and ST Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jagannath Sarka placed a report on rape of minor girls in hostels run by the SC and ST Development Department in the House.
Earlier the Speaker had directed the Minister to make a stament in response to allegations raised by Opposition Congress and BJP members vis-a-vis finding of four minor girls in a hostel to be pregnant and subsequently only one of them tested positive for pregnancy in the Capital Hospital.
In his statement, the Minister said that the girl, which was found pregnant during a test at the Capital Hospital, had a physical relation with a neighbour in her village during summer vacation.
The State Government has take all measures to keep minor girls in safe conditions in all 6,500 schools run by his department, the Minister claimed.
Making a reaction, Mishra said, “The Statement is full of lies. The Government must act to reduce the heinous crimes of minor girl rapes.”
Mentioning about a news story in a newspaper, Mishra said as many as 1,005 rape cases were alleged in Odisha during the last six months against 3,457 in Uttar Pradesh. While UP tops the list of total 24,212 cases reported in the country, Odisha’s figure is very alarming. If population is considered, Odisha would certainly be considered as number one in the list.
Stating that seven cases of minor rape are being reported in Odisha every day and conviction rate is 6 per year, Mishra alleged that PPs and APPs appointed on political considerations are not protecting culprits belonging to the ruling party and, thus, conviction rate is getting very low.
“I, therefore, urged you to direct the Government to appoint cadre-based PPs and APPs soon” urged Mishra.
Another Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati also made the same demand.
In response, Speaker directed the Law Minister to fill up all vacant cadre-based PP and APP posts soon.