BHUBANESWAR: TheOdisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Monday announced that the party would organise a dharna infront of Raj Bhavan on November 2 demanding immediate arrest of the culprits in Kunduli gang-rape case.Alleging that the State Government is trying to shield the accused in the dalit minor gang-rape case in Koraput district, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan said the victim is being pressurised to change her statement. Criticising the police for its failure to nab the culprits though 15 days have elapased since the incident took place, Harichandan alleged that the girl has been put under surveillance in district headquarters hospital (DHH). The minor girl was allegedly raped by four persons near Kunduli on October 14.
Harichandan alleged that the girl is being mentally tortured and made to stay in the hospital though she is fit to be discharged now. He alleged that in the name of counselling, women police personnel are constantly trying to pressurise the girl at the DHH asking her to change her statement in a bid to allow the culprits go scot-free.
Hitting out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the incident, Harichandan sought to know as to why Naveen is silent on the issue despite being in charge of Home Department. The Congress leader alleged though `8.25 lakh should have been paid as compensation as per legal provisions, no payment had been made so far.
Harichandan alleged that five rape cases are being reported everyday in Odisha and police has failed to nab the accused in most cases because of inaction on the part of the State Government. He warned that Congress will intensify its agitation across the State if the Government failed to take appropriate steps for the arrest of accused persons.