BHUBANESWAR: In a major embarrassment for Congress, which is spearheading the fight against growing crime against women in Odisha, state president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Udit Pradhan was arrested late on Sunday night on charges of raping a 19-year-old girl in Bhubaneswar.
The incident allegedly took place at a hotel in Mancheswar area of the city on March 18 this year. The victim reportedly came forward to file her complaint with Mancheswar police on Sunday, following which Pradhan was arrested. Immediately after his arrest, Pradhan was suspended from NSUI by the Congress.
In her complaint, the victim stated that she and her female friend had come to meet a common male friend on the evening of March 18. They were in his car when Pradhan joined them at Station Square. He was known to their male friend.
Pradhan then allegedly took the trio to a hotel in Mancheswar and started consuming alcohol. He allegedly spiked her cold drinks, after which she became unconscious for around 30 minutes. After gaining consciousness, she realised that she had been sexually assaulted.
Additional commissioner of police (ACP) Biswaranjan Senapati told mediapersons that though the alleged incident had taken place four months back, the victim could not gather courage to file a complaint as she was threatened with dire consequences by the accused.
Senapati said the victim has written in her complaint that as the state government and police have begun to act seriously on crime against women, she decided to file a complaint against Pradhan.
Bhakta forms panel to visit victim, NSUI chief asserts zero-tolerance to such crime
A case was registered against Pradhan on Sunday under sections 64 (1) (rape), 123 (causing hurt through poison), 296 (obscene act), 74 (assault on woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS, the ACP said.
After Pradhan’s arrest, the national president of NSUI Varun Choudhury issued a statement on his suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry. “NSUI maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based injustice and is unwavering in its commitment to accountability and justice,” Choudhury stated, while reiterating the party’s continuing fight to get justice for the Balasore FM College victim.
President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Bhakta Charan Das also constituted a six-member committee headed by state vice-president Sasmita Behera to meet the rape victim and submit a report to the party.
Addressing a media conference, Das said, “As the Congress has started the fight in this regard, many past incidents will come to the fore. Congress wants strictest of action in all cases of crime against women whoever may be the person. However, some forces are now trying to deflect the attention from FM College and other incidents.”
Stating that there would be no let-up in the fight of Congress seeking justice for the FM College student, who committed self-immolation, Das called upon all colleges and educational institutions to observe the Shraddha Divas of the deceased girl on July 24 by observing a minute’s silence.