Students demand CBI probe in Ganjam gang-rape case

August 05, 2015 12:00 am | Updated March 29, 2016 01:16 pm IST - BERHAMPUR:

Through a protest demonstration at Chatrapur on Tuesday, students demanded CBI enquiry into the case of gang-rape and murder of a 16-year-old student in Ganjam district of Odisha, a year back.

Agitating students also demanded ten lakh rupees compensation for the family of the victim. Culprits of this heinous crime are yet to be identified and arrested despite investigation by Odisha Crime Branch. Students’ Federation of India (SFI) provided major support to this agitation. State secretary of the CPI (M) Ali Kishore Patnaik, elder sister of the victim Sangita Pradhan, Zilla Parishad member Abhiram Behera, State executive member of the SFI, Biplab Mishra led the agitation.

Agitators took out a rally at Chatrapur, district headquarter of Ganjam and held a public meeting in front of office of sub-collector. They handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister demanding CBI enquiry into the crime as well as immediate payment of 10 lakh rupees as compensation to the family of the victim. Few days’ back state government has sanctioned 75,000 rupees compensation for this family.

Most student leaders including sister of the victim and CPI (M) leader Mr. Patnaik alleged that negligence of the State Crime Branch to track down culprits of this case hinted at possibility of political links of these criminals with the ruling party in the State. They also criticised the State government for sanctioning small amount as compensation for the family of the victim. SFI leader Ram Chandra Nayak said as next step they have decided to hold agitations throughout the State regarding this issue.

Body of the 16-year-old victim, who was a +2 first year student of Sahid Bhagat Singh Memorial College at Khandadeuli had been found in an agricultural field on Aug 3, 2014. She had been gang-raped and murdered on the previous day. Murder of the girl hinted that culprits were localites, whom the victim could have identified. There were allegations that culprits were sheltered by ruling party elements of Ganjam district. Due to large scale student agitation and demands from various political parties, State government had ordered Crime Branch enquiry into this crime. “But till now for some unknown reasons the Crime Branch has not shown any seriousness in the investigation except for few interrogations last year,” said Mr. Patnaik. He termed it as an example of the condition of the law and order in Odisha as this crime had occurred in the home district of the CM, who also holds home portfolio.

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