Congress Fact Finding Team Meets Salepur Rape Victim’s Family

Bhubaneswar: A seven-member team of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Monday met family members of Salepur rape victim, who succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital last evening.

The team, including Sheikh Maqbool Ali, Bijaylaxmi Sahu and Sumitra Jena, held discussions with six-year-old girl’s family members at Jagannathpur village under Salepur block in Cuttack district and assured all possible support. They demanded strict action against the accused.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of the kin of the victim.

Following death of the six-year-old girl, her father and sister demanded death penalty for the guilty. She succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital here earlier in the day, after battling for life for eight days.

Members of various civil society organisations have also sought stringent punishment for the accused and a thorough investigation into the case.

The minor girl was allegedly raped at Jagannathpur village under Salepur block of Cuttack district.

On April 21, the girl was rescued from a school veranda and rushed to a hospital in Salepur. There were injuries on her head, face, chest and private parts and scratches on the neck.

She was later referred to SCB and shifted to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital on Monday night as her health condition turned very critical.

The girl was kept on ventilator at the trauma ICU and being treated by a 13-member special team of doctors of six departments, including orthopaedic, radiology, neuro surgery, paediatric and surgery.

The victim’s family members had alleged that she was raped and an attempt was made to kill her.

Basing on the complaint, one Md. Mustafa was arrested.