BHUBANESWAR: Perturbed over the rise in atrocities against women and police inaction in several such cases, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday asked the Director-General of Police to ensure that such cases are attended to on a priority. The directive followed after a high-level meeting in which he reviewed the law and order situation. Naveen had earlier cancelled his scheduled programme in Aska and Hinjilikatu to campaign for panchayat polls. Three persons were killed in Aska sugar factory last night after a molasses tank burst.
“I have given strict instruction to the DGP to register all the cases of atrocities against women, if not done so. Particular attention must be given to the complaints made by women belonging to ST/SC and minorities,” Naveen told mediapersons here.
The Chief Minister warned that stringent action would be taken against the police personnel for defaulting in duties in registering and attending the cases relating to women. His statement came in the wake of gangrape of a Dalit girl at Pipili, alleged police inaction in booking the culprits in the gangrape of a girl in Balasore district and rape and detention of another girl in Bhubaneswar.
In all the three cases, charges were made against the police, by the Opposition parties and the civil society, for siding with the accused persons while the victims had to run from pillar to post seeking justice.
The Government had already suspended the police in-charge of Pipili police station, who refused to register complaint made by the father of the Dalit girl. Though the incident took place on November 28, 2011, police registered a case only on January 9, 2012 after intervention by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
Similarly, the civil society alleged that police did not take action against the four accused of the gangrape of a girl in Balasore district, though an FIR was lodged on November 3, 2011. The girl was allegedly raped on September 25, 2011 after being kidnapped by four persons.
In another case involving kidnapping, rape and detention of a girl in the State capital, the police are yet to take any action against the accused, though the FIR was lodged two months ago at the Mahila police station, Opposition parties alleged.