Cuttack: After six arrests in the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old college girl, Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena on Sunday informed about suspected involvement of another person in the crime.
“The six persons named in the FIR have been arrested. The family members of the survivor have informed about involvement of one more unknown person in the case and it is being investigated. Allegations have also been received about illegal use of Hookah in the cafe. Purighat police will take appropriate action after investigation,” he told reporters.
He further said that the five mobile phones, belonging to the accused, will be sent to the State Forensic Laboratory (SFL) to ascertain presence of any obscene videos. “We have also asked the Tehsildar to submit the joint inquiry report for compensation,” he added.
According to the complaint, the girl had gone to a cafe in Cuttack with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday during the Dussehra festival when their intimate moments was allegedly captured by the cafe owner on his mobile phone. The accused then blackmailed her and raped her several times.
The DCP said that specific security has not been provided to the girl’s family as it would then establish their identity in the locality. “We are in touch with them. The survivor is doing fine as per her family. Help will be extended to them if needed,” he added.
On Saturday, Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous had claimed that the survivor is unreachable. “It raises additional concern about her well-being and safety. I request that your office looks into her current situation and ensures that she feels secured and supported,” she stated in her letter to the DGP while urging him to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the reported delay in registration of FIR in the case by police.
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According to the MLA, the girl went to the Puri Ghat police station, then to Sadar police station and then to Barang before the FIR was lodged by the Badambadi police station. “This delay is alarming and raises serious concern about the responsiveness of law enforcement agencies especially when it comes to addressing crimes against women,” she said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of women BJD leaders met the DCP earlier in the day and handed over a memorandum, demanding thorough probe and stringent action. BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria spoke about the delay in filing the FIR and also about another accused person who is yet to be arrested. “During Naveen Patnaik’s regime, police stations were under Mo Sarkar and complaints were immediately filed,” she said.
Chhuria further alleged that the cafe where the obscene video was shot was illegal. “The police administration was aware about it and illegal use of Hookah there. The same place was used by BJP’s Cuttack-Barabati MLA candidate Purna Chandra Mohapatra as party office during the elections earlier this year. BJP’s Ward 26 Corporator Gangan Ojha also stays nearby,” she claimed.
Responding to the allegations, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said that people rejected BJD in the last elections because of deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “Our government is take stringent steps and accused are being arrested immediately. Efforts are also being made for early conviction,” he told reporters.