Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today extended the tenure of Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe the Kunduli gang rape and suicide for another three months. This is the second time that the tenure of the probe commission has been extended by the state government.
As per reports, the tenure of Inquiry Commission, which was scheduled to end on June 25, 2018 has now been extended by three months beyond June 25.
Initially, the Commission of Inquiry was formed on December 26, 2017 to probe the case and was asked to submit its report within three months. But with the investigation incomplete when the tenure expired on March 25, 2018, the Home Department on March 26 subsequently extended its tenure by three months.
Meanwhile, a few social activists have questioned the repeated extension of the Inquiry Commission's tenure.
"This is simply an eye wash for the people that the commission is carrying out probe and inquiry is on. Till now there is no report of the inquiry. Even politically, everyone has kept silent and nobody is questioning. Politicians are only thinking how to gain politically. No one is concerned for the victim, neither for the citizens of Odisha," said Rituparna Mohanty, social activist.
The minor girl, on October 10, 2017, had alleged that four “persons in uniform” gang raped her. Following public outcry, the case was first investigated by the police and later handed over to the Crime Branch.
On November 6, 2017, Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) ADG, Mahendra Pratap revealed that the victim was not raped. Amid all hue and cry, the minor girl hanged herself to death inside her house on January 22, 2018.