CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court (HC) on Wednesday directed that the 19-year-old girl from Pipili, victim of an alleged gang-rape, be shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital (MCH), Cuttack.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mahapatra further asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack, to post a lady constable to provide security to the victim. Besides, vigil should be maintained around the medical college so that no threat is posed to the girl’s life and neither the accused nor their supporters interfere with her treatment.
The girl was undergoing treatment at Capital Hospital after a direction from the Orissa Human Rights Commission on Monday.
Following a petition filed by rights activist Prabir Das, the division bench had asked for the medical report which was placed before the HC on Wednesday.
Basing on the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer of Capital Hospital, who had submitted that the victim needs multi-disciplinary super specialist intervention, the HC said the Dalit girl must be shifted in a full-fledged ambulance with assistance of the doctors and in police escort.
The HC laid stress on the “safety” aspect of the girl and directed that care should be taken to ensure smooth shifting. Besides, the SCBMCH authorities were asked to ready a bed in the ICU and provide required treatment by posting necessary health personnel.
The Superintendent of SCBMCH was directed to monitor the treatment of the girl and submit status report to the court on Friday. The Hospital will bear the expenses.
The Cuttack DCP was also asked to submit a status report on Friday. The HC was also told that Crime Branch had taken over investigation of the case. The Deputy SP of Crime Branch was directed to proceed with the investigation and submit a status report by January 16.
Since CB has taken over the probe, the earlier HC’s direction to Puri SP for probe by a DSP-ranked officer stood modified. The case has been posted to January 13.