Kunduli suicide: Odisha human rights body seeks report in 15 days

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today sought a report within 15 days over the suicide of a minor tribal girl of Kunduli in Koraput district, who was allegedly gangraped by a group of security personnel last year.

Acting on a petition filed by social activists Nishikanta Mishra and Akhand, the state human rights body has directed the Chief Secretary and DGP to submit report in this regard within the stipulated period.

The petitioner said, “The state government and the Crime Branch are responsible for the death of the Kunduli gang rape victim. She committed suicide as the Crime Branch could not investigate the matter properly.”

“It’s a failure of the whole system. It violates the human rights of the victim and her family members,” said Mishra.

Akhand said, “No proper counselling was provided to the victim at first stage. Again, in the name of investigation, police officials questioned the victim in police station, hospital and her home and put pressure on her to withdraw her complaint about rape.”

“The Collector & District Magistrate, Koraput and the Superintendent of Police, Koraput failed to provide protection to the victim and her parents despite the direction of the commission in previous case,” added Akhand.

Taking cognizance of the matter, the acting chairperson of the Commission, Justice B.K. Mishra issued notice to Chief Secretary and Police DG to submit a report about the action taken for safety and security of the victim, counselling and rehabilitation within 15 days time.

Notably, a minor tribal girl of Sorisapadar village, who was allegedly gang raped by a group of security personnel on October 10 last year when she was returning from Kunduli market near the village in Koraput, committed suicide at her house on January 22.

Normal life came to a standstill in several parts of Odisha yesterday as the Congress and the BJP observed a state-wide dawn-to-dusk shutdown over the suicide of the victim.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered for a judicial probe into the incident. The Odisha Crime Branch was also probing into the incident classifying it as a ‘Red Flag’ case.

The incident had triggered massive public outrage across the state and the opposition members also raised it in the state Assembly last year.