NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Officials On Sexual Assault Of Minor Girls In Keonjhar

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Collector and SP of Odisha’s Keonjhar district in three cases where minor girls were allegedly subjected to sexual assault last month.

One girl is reported to be pregnant, while another gave birth to a baby boy last month.

In the first case, a 13-year-old school dropout girl from Keonjhar was sexually assaulted by her friend’s father. Instead of taking appropriate legal action, the father of the survivor reportedly handed over the girl to the accused.

The NHRC issued this notice on Thursday after hearing a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, who alleged that three cases of sexual assault of minor girls have been reported from Keonjhar district last month. Earlier similar cases have been reported from different parts of the state. It should be stopped, TOI quoted the petitioner as saying.

Legal action with preventive, punitive, reformative, compensatory and rehabilitating measures with psycho-social counselling of the victim is yet to be done in the first case, he claimed.

The petitioner also alleged that a minor inmate of a residential tribal school in the district was found to be six months pregnant on September 14.

In another case, a class X girl of a school of the same district delivered a baby boy at district headquarters hospital on September 10.

He further alleged that child marriage is still underway in a particular community living in Telkoi area of Keonjhar district.

“Intervention of the Commission has been sought inter-alia for detailed reply on these incidents, details of students who have been found to be pregnant in schools/hostels run by the ST and SC development department, preventive and punitive action taken by the district administration, legal action against errant officials and compensation to the victims,” said the NHRC order.

The Commission has directed its registry to send the copy of complaint to the Keonjhar district magistrate and the SP calling for an action taken report within four weeks. The copy of instant proceeding should also be forwarded to the state chief secretary for information and necessary action.