Kendrapada: The Odisha Crime Branch on Sunday classified the alleged gang-rape of a Class VII girl at a private English medium school in Rajkanika area of Odisha’s Kendrapada district as a ‘Red Flag’ case, indicating top-priority investigation while underscoring its gravity and sensitivity.
Officials confirmed that the case will now be monitored at the highest level, with the Crime Branch DG leading the investigation. Senior officials, including the DGP, Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW), and Child Welfare Committee (CWC), will conduct regular follow-ups. A special Public Prosecutor (PP) will also be appointed to expedite judicial proceedings. A charge sheet is expected within a maximum of 60 days in such cases.
These steps are intended to expedite the trial and deliver justice without delay.
This came a day after Rajkanika police arrested four teachers and a peon of the private school for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl multiple times over the past two years.
The incident came to light when the Class VII girl refused to attend school on January 14 and narrated the ordeal to her mother, following which the family lodged a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on February 18, which referred the case to the police after a 48-hour-long investigation. The arrests were made on Saturday on the basis of separate complaints lodged by the girl’s parents and the CWC at Rajkanika police station.
As per the allegation, the girl was subjected to prolonged sexual exploitation by her teachers who raped her repeatedly. The accused allegedly resorted to threat and intimidation to silence her.
Those arrested are teachers Chandan Kumar Prusty (37), Biswa Ranjan Sahoo (31), Rashmi Kanta Biswal (47), Minati Bai (34), who allegedly assisted in the crime and peon Rashmi Ranjan Rana (32). The five have been booked on charges of gang-rape of a minor, criminal intimidation under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and provisions of POCSO Act. The woman teacher has been additionally booked for abetment and concealment.
Earlier speaking to the media, Kendrapada SP Siddharth Kataria said the statement of the minor girl and arrested five, who have been named in the FIR, have been recorded. “Since it’s a sensitive issue, we are sending senior officials from the headquarters who are part of the crime against women team to monitor and supervise the investigation,” the SP added.
The investigation is being carried out under the Swift Trial Initiative (STI) to ensure expedited proceedings. “A DSP-ranked officer has been specially assigned to lead the investigation and the SP is personally supervising it. The case has been taken up under STI to ensure expeditious investigation and trial. The Odisha Police is treating this case with the highest seriousness and sensitivity,” said IG (central range) Satyajit Naik.
While the family accused the school of inaction, the principal said they learnt about the incident only after a complaint was lodged with the CWC. “The facts will be known after a detailed investigation,” the principal added.
