Odisha govt orders SIT probe into Kunduli gangrape case

Bhubaneswar:  The Odisha government on Wednesday announced to hand over the investigation of the Kunduli gangrape case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by aOrissa High Court.

“Because of the extraordinary circumstances of the case after the death of the victim girl, my strong faith and conviction in the principles of natural justice and commitment to safety and dignity of women, the state government will take immediate steps for handing over the investigation of the cases to a Special Investigation Team with a prayer to be monitored by the court,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

He said the Kunduli alleged gangrape case is an extremely tragic incident.

“In addition to transferring the case for investigation to the Crime Branch, the State Government had also instituted an independent Judicial Inquiry with a sitting judge nominated by the Honourable High Court,” he said.

He said the state government is committed that justice should be delivered at the earliest and in most transparent manner.

A minor tribal girl of Sorisapadar village was allegedly gang raped by men in uniform on October 10 last year when she was returning from Kunduli market near the village in Koraput district.

She committed suicide at her house on January 22. The incident had triggered massive public outrage across the state.