Dharmendra Pradhan seeks CBI probe into Odisha gang rape

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the gang rape case of a minor girl in Odisha's Koraput district should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The minor tribal girl of Kunduli, who was allegedly gang-raped, committed suicide after being denied justice. Here the state government and police administration are accused in the case," said Pradhan.

"Manipulation of the forensic report had earlier been reported in Anjana Mishra gang rape case. After the rape of a dalit girl was proved and allegations were levelled against the Odisha Police and Director General of Police, the Chief Minister is acting ignorant," alleged Pradhan.

A minor girl was allegedly gang raped by security personnel in October last year. She hanged herself at her house last week as she was denied justice.

The Union Minister said that the BJP will not stay quiet and will remain adamant till justice was delivered to the deceased.

Rejecting the allegations, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief whip in the Assembly Amar Prasad Satpathy said the state government is committed to ensuring justice to the victim.

"Judicial inquiry has been ordered and there will be an impartial probe. The Kunduli mishap is certainly a sensitive one and nobody should do politics over it," said Satpathy.

He said many cases had been handed over to the CBI earlier but people of the state were still unaware of the proceedings.

"The demand for a CBI probe is just part of a campaign by the BJP and I think that judicial probe is the best option," said Satpathy.