Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged Kunduli gang rape and suicide incident. The SIT probe will be monitored by the court.
Briefing mediapersons here, Patnaik said the state government is committed to ensure justice to the victim at the earliest and in a most transparent manner.
Terming the incident as extremely tragic, the CM said that justice should be done without fear or favour. "Because of the extraordinary circumstances of the case after the death of the victim girl, my strong faith and conviction in the principles of natural justice and commitment to safety and dignity of women, the state government will take immediate steps for handing over the case to SIT," he said.
Earlier, the state government had ordered a Crime Branch (CB) inquiry besides instituting an independent judicial inquiry with a sitting judge for the investigation.
Meanwhile, the five-member team of the NHRC is continuing the probe into the incident. One team led by DSP Ravi Singh is visiting Jeypore sub-division to hold discussions at the Koraput Medical College & Hospital while another team is conducting interrogation at Duguriput.
Later in the day, both the teams are slated to hold joint discussions with medical authorities at the skill development centre. During the interrogation, the team will question 18 doctors of the hospital, officials of State Forensic Laboratory, CWC and district child line officials.
Similarly, a team of National Commission for Scheduled Castes is also scheduled to visit Odisha on February 11 to probe into the incident.