SC order on Itishree murder hailed

: Political parties and women rights activists hailed the order of Supreme Court that directed the CBI to expeditiously probe the murder of Itishree Pradhan, a lady teacher, who was burnt to death 15 months ago.

“Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to constitute a special team within seven days to apprehend the criminal who burnt Itishree to death. The team must start their probe immediately. The investigation team should submit its report to Supreme Court within two months,” said Suresh Tripathy, Senior Supreme Court lawyer, who was counsel in the case.

Itishree, who was working at Tikri in Rayagada district of Odisha’, was burnt alive on October 27, 2013. She had succumbed to injuries in a private hospital at Visakhapatnam on November 1. Prior to the ghastly murder, the teacher had complained that she was subjected to sexual harassment at the hands of her immediate superior. But her grievances were redressed neither by district authorities including district magistrate and superintendent of police nor by State authorities including Chief Minister’s Office.

After the death, the State government had directed Crime Branch to probe the case. Subsequently, School Inspector Netrananda Dandasena, District Inspector of School Dharanidhar Behera, Officer-in-charge of Tikri Police Sujit Kumar Sai and another police officer Murlidhar Pradhan were suspended from the job. The main accused, Netrananda Dandasena, is now lodged in Rayagada jail. However, the offender, who killed Itishree allegedly on behest of Dandasena, is still at large.

Despite hue and cry of Opposition parties, women rights activists, students and victim’s family members, the State government had been trying to evade the CBI probe by hiring top notch lawyers in Supreme Court.

Mr. Tripathy said, “The request of the Odisha government to entrust the investigation was rejected. The Supreme Court will monitor the progress of the investigation.”

“The State government has long been trying to suppress the matter,” said Sulochana Das, Congress spokesperson.