My father used to sexually abuse me, says girl ‘kidnapped’ from Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Close to three years after her alleged kidnapping from Odisha’s Balasore, the victim has been rescued from Agartala today. However, the teenager levelled serious allegations against her father of sexual abuse which prompted her to run away from home.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) rescued the girl and arrested the accused teacher Suresh Chandra Das from the capital city of Tripura.

The sleuths of the premier investigative agency produced the accused before Special CBI court where it sought to take Das on remand.

The court granted the CBI to take the accused teacher on a five-day remand for interrogation.

After medical examination, the girl was produced in the court where her statement was recorded under section 164 of CrPC. During recording of statement, the victim made startling revelations that she was a victim of sexual abuse by her father.

“My father used to sexually abuse me for which I had taken my teacher’s help to escape torture,” the girl said.

Peeved over repeated abuse, the girl then studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya in Balasore went to the teacher’s house to take shelter. Later, they got married, she said in her statement.

As per reports, the girl had even attempted to commit suicide by jumping in front of railway tracks twice out of frustration due to physical torture. She was recued by District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members and kept at a short stay home for one month for counselling.

“The girl had come to CWC office with her teacher where she alleged that her father was sexually abusing her. But, while her statement was recorded the girl had said that her teacher had instigated her to tell such things against her father,” said Lina Panigrahi, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Balasore.

On December 22, 2014 an FIR was registered with Sadar Police Station in Balasore that the then 16-year-old girl was kidnapped. Later, the case was handed over to Crime Branch.

Aggrieved over the inaction by the police in rescuing the girl from the clutches of the kidnapper, the complainant (victim’s mother) had filed a writ petition in 2015 in Orissa High Court seeking transfer of the case to the CBI.

On September 29, 2016 the HC directed the CBI to take up the investigation.

An FIR was lodged against Suresh Chandra Das and another woman teacher. The duo was accused of kidnapping, abducting or compelling woman to marry, criminal intimidation, abetment, acts done in furtherance of common intention.

While the male teacher was terminated from service under Article 81 (D) of Education Code for Kendriya Vidyalayas, the other accused was yet to be traced.

As per sources, the girl hails from Hyderabad and was studying in KV as her father was working in the coastal town of Balasore.