Malkangiri: Balimela Police is investigating into the alleged physical and mental torture of a minor girl by the Maoists in their camp after receiving a complaint from the victim today.
Talking to OTV, the minor girl and a Class VII student of Maribeda village of Andrapalli panchayat in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda block said her parents had admitted her in a tribal residential school at Nandiniguda in Kudmulgumma in fear of the Maoists in her village.
“I had gone to my village during Dussehra vacation in October this year when the Maoists forcibly took me to their camp and engaged me in various works like cooking and cleaning their gun. While in their camp, I was subjected to mental and physical torture. Like me, there were a number of girls who were also sexually tortured. Fearing police action, the Maoists used to change their location from one place to other frequently,” the victim said.
She said as the exploitation of the Maoists became intolerable, she along with other girls decided to escape from their custody.
“We finally got the opportunity when an encounter took place between the Maoists and the police on October 24. As the Maoists ran away from the area to save their lives, I along with some of the girls crossed the river in a boat and arrived at Totaguda village on the other side of the river. From there, we reached Nandiniguda village by foot via Amliguda village,” she added.
Meanwhile, the parents of the victim have requested the tribal residential school authorities to allow their daughter to continue her education. However, the authorities have agreed to allow her subject to the permission from the higher authorities.
Asked about the matter, Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said police has received a complaint of a minor girl of the cut-off area about her physical and mental torture by the Maoists. “Police is now counselling the victim. We have sought more details from the victim. If any cognisable offence is revealed from her statement, a case will be registered,” he added.
The SP further said the Maoists are gradually deviating from Mao idealism. Besides, there is disagreement among the cadres in the party, he pointed out.