The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Malkangiri district Superintendent of Police over the rape of a tribal girl student by a schoolteacher.
Acting on a petition filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain the commission sought the report within four weeks. The petitioner alleged that on March 29 Prashant Kumar Maharana, a teacher of the Kasturaba Gandhi Girls’ High School located at Parkanmala had raped a Class- VII tribal girl student in the school office.
The petitioner urged the commission to take criminal/disciplinary action against the school authorities and to ensure a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim girl.
A case has been registered at the Orkel police station in this regard. The petitioner also requested the apex human rights watchdog to protect the life of the victim.