Odisha police "red flags" gang rape of Koraput minor

BHUBANESHWAR: The state police promised prompt and decisive action in the case of gang rape of a schoolgirl in Koraput that has shocked Odisha.

Tension prevailed in the southern Odisha district of Koraput over the gang rape, allegedly by four security personnel, of a minor girl studying in class IX currently hospitalised. The girl was reportedly returning from a nearby local market in Kunduli, where she had gone to get a passport pictures shot, when four men gagged and dragged her into the forest. Four men wearing “jungle uniforms” which has led the victim’s family to allege that the men belonged to central security forces.

Outraged locals blocked traffic since Tuesday on the National Highway 26, connecting the Jeypore to Visakhapatnam. Koraput SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh said they were hopeful of a resolving the issue soon. Congressman and MLA of Jeypore, Tara Prasad Bahinipati has threatened to call for a bandh if arrests are not made soon.

In a statement released to the media late on Tuesday night, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had expressed “deep shock and denounced the incident as most inhuman”.

Police has recognised this as a ‘Red Flag" case – cases of heinous crime against a woman to be dealt with on top priority under a circular issued by the Odisha police in 2014. A case under sections 376 (D), section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and section 6 of POCSO Act has already filed in Potangi police station under.

On Wednesday, DGP RP Sharma said an assistant director of the Regional Forensic Laboratory, in Berhampur and a professor of forensic medicine and toxicology have been sent to assist in the investigation. “Our endeavour is to ensure that no physical evidence which this point has to be collected at this stage is missed out and we do proper scientific investigation.”

Sharma said, “There are different forces stationed in Koraput – the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and the local police.” But added, “There are also naxals who also use camouflage combat uniform. And it is very important for us to establish that, if this case is true, those actually responsible are caught. We are investigating the case from all the angles and keeping in mind all the possibilities.”