Investigate Puri-Konark marine drive rape case by SIT: NCW

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Bhubaneswar: Dissatisfied over the State Government’s investigation process and callousness in approaching the matter of extreme serious consequence for women security particularly the rape and murder of 14-year-old blind girl of Beladal in Puri-Konark marine drive on June 7 last, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday recommended for formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the State Government for speedy investigation.

The two-member team of the NCW comprising Hemlata Kheria and Manasi Pradhan after visiting the victim’s native, Puri District Headquarters Hospital, concerned police stations and officials from July 17 to July 23 suggested immediate transfer of the case to SIT consisting of police officers with expertise in crime investigation with at least one lady officer and headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner with a mandate to complete the investigation within 60 days.

The committee in its report stated that the State Government has failed to initiate a serious inquiry into the heinous incident.

“Even clear Supreme Court guideline for conducting rape investigations by an expert women police officer under supervision of a police officer not below the rank of ACP with active participation of a forensic expert has been thrown to wind by the State Government,” the report observed.

The report too raised questions on post mortem report of the victim and stated that the police have failed to acquire a DNA test report of the swabs collected from the victim’s body which is a minimal requirement in rape investigation to ascertain the number of persons involved.

It too blasted the Government for its Rs 10,000 compensation to victim’s family and suggested Rs 10 lakh compensation.

“Though four cases of rapes have occurred in the Puri-Konark marine drive in last two years and the NCW chief Mamta Sharma during her last visit to the place had suggested 24 hour patrolling in the region, but we found no trace of any patrolling vehicle in eight hours it spend during course of inquiry in the marine drive,” said the report.

Similarly, the committee found that none of the major police stations in Puri had even a functional ‘Women Desk’ and the city was devoid of even a single ‘Women Police Station.’

Besides, the committee recommended Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family, appointment of a special public prosecutor for trial of the case in a fast track court.

The committee also recommended a special ‘Women Protection Force’ for Puri and a well equipped intensive care unit at Puri District Headquarters Hospital, women Police Station in Puri and augmentation of Women Security at Puri Railway Station.

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