Naveen Announces Court-Monitored SIT To Probe Kunduli Case

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced formation of a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged gangrape and subsequent suicide of minor girl at Kunduli in Koraput district.

The Chief Minister’s decision came in the wake of widespread public outcry over the alleged attempts of the police and the administration to hush up the case and demand for a CBI inquiry into the matter. Opposition Congress and BJP have been trying to nail down the state government over the issue while some activists are also slamming the ruling dispensation.

Briefing mediapersons at the secretariat here, Naveen described the Kunduli incident as “extremely tragic” and said: “Because of the extraordinary circumstances of the case after the death of the girl (on January 22, 2018), my strong faith and conviction in the principles of natural justice and commitment to safety and dignity of women, the state government will take immediate steps for handing over investigation of the cases to a SIT with a prayer to be monitored by court.”

Reiterating his “firm belief that law should take its own course and justice should be done without fear or favour”, Naveen said, “The state government is committed that justice should be delivered at the earliest and in the most transparent manner.”

The state government had earlier ordered a Crime Branch probe as well as judicial inquiry into the Kunduli episode.