Nun rape: Missionary institutions closed

A day-long bandh to keep all education institutions closed in Chhattisgarh in protest against the alleged gang-rape of a Christian nun evoked a mixed response in the state on Wednesday.

All missionary schools and colleges, along with a section of private schools and educational institutions in cities such as Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Dhamtari, remained shut in response to the call by the Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti. However, all government-run educational institutions remained unaffected by the call.

The 48-year-old nun was allegedly gang-raped by two masked men at a medicare centre in Raipur's <g data-gr-id="28">Pandari</g> area on June 20. The police's failure to trace the accused had led to public outrage.

"Crime against women is on the rise and by extending support to our bandh call, the students have reflected their anger against such incidents," said Dharmaraj Mahapatra, convener of the Samiti. He said a "massive" protest would be organised on July 8 if police failed to arrest the culprits by then. 

"Even after 10 days of the offence (rape), neither the perpetrators have been identified nor has anybody been taken into custody. We have met the Chief Minister and DGP and urged them to take speedy action. If nothing concrete is done at the earliest, we will launch a massive protest on July 8," Mahapatra added.

Several protests, seeking the arrest of the culprits, were staged in the city in the past few days. In her complaint to the police, the victim had said she was sexually assaulted by two masked men in the wee hours of June 20. She further alleged that her perpetrators <g data-gr-id="29">blind-folded</g> and gagged her, while she was asleep at the nursing centre. 

State DGP AN Upadhyay had on Tuesday announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for giving information regarding the perpetrators. Last week, Raipur range IG, GP Singh, had also announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for providing information regarding the accused.

"Several teams have been formed to trace the accused. Interrogation of suspects is also going on and soon the accused would be behind bars," said Raipur SP BN Meena.