DHENKANAL: A day after the raped minor girl committed suicide by setting herself on fire fearing social stigma, women Congress activists on Monday staged a road block at Baji Chowk here demanding immediate arrest of the accused and ex gratia of `10 lakh to the girl’s kin.
Addressing mediapersons after meeting the family members of the 16-year-old girl in their house at Bhagbanpura, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichadan demanded that the family be linked with livelihood schemes. Harichandan attacked the police administration for its failure to arrest the accused and demanded immediate steps to nab the culprit.
The girl used to stitch clothes to maintain her family of six members. Her father was a daily wage earner but had to stop working after partially losing his vision.
The girl’s mother demanded that a member of the family be provided job to help sustain their lives.
State Mahila Congress president Sasmita Behera, Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, State PCC general secretary Sidheswari Prasad Mishra and former MLA Sudhir Kumar Samal accompanied Haridhandan.
ADM Yudhistir Nayak, Tehsildar S Kar and Additional SP along with police personnel were also present. District administration has released `10,000 from Red Cross Fund and the process to release fund as per provisions of SC/ST Act to the family has been expedited, he added.