BHUBANESWAR: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) sought clarification from the state government on Monday about action on the commission's recommendation to arrest Pipili legislator Pradeep Maharathy and certain police officers and doctors, who had allegedly played foul in the case pertaining to the 'rape' of a dalit girl in Pipili on November 29, 2011.
Following a summon from the commission on February 26, chief secretary Bijay Patnaik, DGP Manmohan Praharaj, home secretary U N Behera and other state government representatives appeared before NCSC chairman P L Punia in New Delhi and explained various measures the government has adopted in connection with the Pipili case, official sources said. The state government representatives also briefed Punia about action taken in the incident of upper caste people allegedly setting ablaze houses of dalit families in Lathore village, Balangir, on January 22 and at Kamadhenukhot village, Dhenkanal, on February 12.
After a visit to the state in the first week of March, Punia had submitted a report, expressing displeasure over the manner in which doctors and police handled the Pipili case and recommended arrest of the doctors involved, then inspector-in-charge of Pipili police station Amulya Champatiray and Maharathy, who stepped down as agriculture minister on January 19 in the wake of allegations that he harboured the rape accused.
Sources said Punia wanted to know why the government was yet to initiate criminal action against the 'errant' doctors and why his recommendations were not yet implemented. He also inquired about measures taken to rehabilitate and provide security to the victim's family.
Punia told media persons he also sought information from the government about various cases pertaining to dalits in Odisha.
Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said they handed over status reports on Pipili, Lathore and Kamadhenu incidents to the commission. "The commission has asked for some more information, which we would give soon," he added.
The state government team's meeting with Punia came a day after Justice P K Mohanty commission, which is probing the alleged rape, visited the victim's village, Arjungoda.Link: Pipili rape case: State briefs caste panel on action taken
No comments:
Post a Comment