Odisha’s Kunduli ‘gang rape’ victim commits suicide

Koraput: The class-IX girl student of Kunduli in Odisha’s Koraput district, who was allegedly gang raped by a group of security personnel last year, died today after she attempted to commit suicide, police said.

According to reports, she took the extreme step by hanging herself at her house and was rushed to Kunduli community health centre (CHC) in a critical condition where doctor declared her ‘received dead’.

Confirming the news, Sunabeda SDPO Narahari Nayak said she was declared ‘received dead’ at the health centre.

“She was under tremendous pressure and doubtful about getting justice. The government wanted her to take such step and it happened. It is unfortunate that a young girl resorted to end her life after being denied justice,” former Nabarangpur MP and Congress leader Pradeep Majhi said.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the Congress have demanded a CBI investigation into the death of the girl.

Also read: No proof Odisha’s Kunduli minor was raped: HRPC.

Notably, the minor girl was allegedly gang raped by a group of security personnel on October 10, last year while returning from school.

Also read: Video: Shocking revelations by Odisha gangrape victim, cops interrogated her at midnight.

A case under Sections 376 (D) and 377 of IPC and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered.

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.

The government had assigned the police and the Crime Branch to probe the case.

Later, the Human Rights Protection Cell of the Odisha Police said that there was no truth to the allegations made by the victim. Moreover, police also denied any evidence of gang rape.

On November 18, the girl attempted suicide. Eventually, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a judicial probe into the incident.

On Monday, the Chief Minister expressed grief and conveyed his sympathy to the family members.

On the other hand, Congress chief whip in the Assembly Taraprasad Bahinipati demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the case.

“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. A CBI probe should be instituted to ascertain the actual truth,” said Bahinipati.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jayram Pangi also demanded a CBI probe into the incident. (With IANS Inputs)