Bhubaneswar: Expressing grave concern over the death of Salepur minor rape victim, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajendra Prasad Sharma directed the investigating officers in the case to frame charges against the accused and submit the same in the next 15 days.
Assuring that immediate and strict action will be initiated against the accused, the DGP asked the officers to examine every aspect of the case to ensure justice to the family of the victim, who succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital last evening.
Talking to mediapersons later in the day, ADG, Crime Branch, Santosh Upadhyay, said the Salepur incident was the first to be reported from the state after the amendment to the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.
Stating that the police had red flagged this case and started investigation, he said as per the provisions in the amended POCSO Act, stringent punishment would be sought for the accused. “As per the provisions in the Act, we would seek 20-year imprisonment or capital punishment,” he added.
The ADG further said police will gather all tangible evidence like the fingerprint and get the DNA test done to make the case full-proof.
Earlier in the day, members of BJP state unit had staged a mass demonstration at Ram Mandir Square here demanding justice for the victim.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed profound grief and shock over the tragic death of Salepur rape victim during the question hour of Odisha Assembly and promised stringent action against the accused. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
A seven-member team of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), including Sheikh Matlub Ali, Bijayalaxmi Sahu and Sumitra Jena, had met the family members of Salepur rape victim and assured all possible support, besides demanding strict action against the accused.
The minor girl was allegedly raped at Jagannathpur village under Salepur block of Cuttack district. On April 21, she 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. After weeklong battle for life, she breathed her last on Sunday.
