In a series of tweets, Patra said “the fight to ensure justice to ‘Pari’ will continue till the culprit is punished. The fight between good and evil began from a lane in Nayagarh and will soon reach the national Capital- Delhi,” he stated.
“Someone named Babuli is alleged to be the accused in the entire episode, but MLA Arun Sahoo has shielded him. Police should put Sahoo behind the bar as he has been protecting goons like Babuli,” Patra tweeted.
Levelling serious allegation against the police, Patra said “Five-year-old girl ‘Pari’ of Jadupur under Nayagarh Assembly segment which falls under Puri Lok Sabh constituency was kidnapped on July 14. Ten days later, only 14-15 bones of the girl were traced to the backyard of her home. All other remains of the girl were burnt with the help of chemicals. But, police has not taken any step in such a heinous crime," wondered Patra who had contested the last Lok Sabha election from Puri constituency.
Patra's tweets came hours after the Odisha government announced to issue a notification for a court-monitored SIT probe into the case.
Under severe pressure from Opposition, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced the investigation to be handed over to a SIT while taking part in the Assembly discussions through video-conferencing.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh on Saturday informed the Assembly that a notification will be issued soon in this regard.
Despite government's announcement for a high level inquiry, the BJP continued it’s vociferous attack on the government in the Assembly and stalled the House transaction which forced the Speaker to adjourn it for multiple times. The saffron party demanded the ouster of Minister Arun Sahoo from the Cabinet, alleging his complicity in the case.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that state minister Arun Sahoo is putting pressure on Collector and SP of Nayagarh to hush up the case. “It is difficult to carry out an impartial probe as long as he (Arun Sahoo) is not suspended. The BJD party should suspend him immediately on moral grounds. The whole of Odisha is well aware of the culprits behind the kidnapping and murder of minor girl Pari. Locals in her native village Jadupur understand the situation better than anybody else. Surprisingly, no arrests have been made even after 5 months of the incident, system has collapsed completely due to pressure by politicians,” said Patra questioning the police inaction.
“I would like to thank NCPCR for issuing summons to Nayagarh SP and Collector, as per our demands. We have also demanded an independent investigation by the Commission. Meeting Pari’s family, I would let them know that this isn’t a political issue. I am here for the family as a citizen of Odisha fighting for justice to Odisha’s minor girl. We are fighting and we will continue our fight. With folded hands, I request people of Odisha to stand united to give justice to Pari,” the senior BJP leader said.
We will raise a public awareness through a mega rally in the area, so that more voices join us in the fight, he said.
READ | ‘Pari’ Murder Case: Child Rights Body Summons Nayagarh DM, SP
A delegation of the Congress led by state in-charge A Chellakumar and OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik has also reached Nayagarh to meet victim’s family and review the current scenario. They were also joined by senior leaders Narasingha Mishra, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, AICC Secretary Rudra Raju, Jaydev Jena, Bhakta Das and Pradeep Majhi.
The delegation also visited the spot from where skeletal remains of the minor girl were traced months back. “Be it any politician or any influential person, whosoever is found involved in the case should be hanged to death. However, the BJP’s protest is for political motives. Congress has led the protests right from the beginning and still stands its ground,” said the party state in-charge.
Reacting to the progress in the probe of the sensational murder case of the 5-year-old girl, SIT chief Arun Bothra says the team is working hard. "Give us two weeks time, we are working hard and aware of the responsibilities," said Bothra.
Reportedly, chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) Sandhyabati Pradhan has recommended the State government for a compensation of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to Pari’s family. She has also assured that Odisha government and CM Naveen Patnaik would soon make an announcement in this regard.
The idea of grant of compensation has however been rejected by Pari’s family. Refusing to accept the Commission’s proposal, Pari’s mother Soudamini Sahu alleged that this is conspicuously a conspiracy by minister Arun Sahoo.
“Our daughter was abducted and murdered. We have been tortured and assaulted multiple times but SP and Collector have turned mute. Who is pressuring them?” Soudamini questioned.
“This is clearly a plot of the minister. They think compensation will console us and we would keep mum after that. We have never asked for money. All we want is justice. I will continue to fight for justice. We demand a CBI probe into the matter and minister’s resignation," she said.
Adamant on a CBI probe, Pari’s father too is not satisfied with the suspension of Nayagarh Sadar police station IIC and transfer of Nayagarh SDPO as he wants the government to drag all those shielding the accused. “The SP and Collector intentionally delayed the investigation process under the pressure of Arun Sahoo. A CBI probe can only bring the truth to the fore and ensure justice,” said Ashok Sahu.
Five-year-old girl Pari of Jadupur village in Nayagarh was allegedly kidnapped on July 14 when she was playing outside her house. Her skeletal remains were recovered from the backyard of her house nine days later. There are allegations of involvement of a human organ trafficking syndicate behind Pari’s murder.
Odisha: With No Judicial Powers How can SIT Investigate ‘Pari’ Murder, Asks D Purandeswari
Moreover, the arrest and charges slapped by SIT again point to the lackadaisical probe into this sensational case by Nayagarh police that has now snowballed into a big political controversy. Both Congress and BJP have gone for the Jugular of Naveen Patnaik government and his important Cabinet Minister Arun Sahoo.
“Despite recovering Pari’s dead body on July 23, why the Nayagarh police had treated the case as a kidnapping case (charges slapped section 363),” questioned BJP firebrand leader Lekhashri Samantsinghar.
However, the SIT investigation has nailed that the little girl was kidnapped in order to murder. For which, SIT has slapped the section of 364 under IPC.
As per senior advocate Nishikant Mahapatra, when SIT has said that the five year old girl was kidnapped with an intention to murder. Then SIT has to establish the motive of crime in the court. “The cardinals of criminal justice say that when a kidnap or murder takes place, it always carries a motive,” he observed.
A look at the charges framed against the accused, whose name is yet to be disclosed, hints at the motive. By invoking the sections of 376-A/376-AB of IPC, SIT has now attributed the motive of kidnapping and murder to rape.
The slapping of the section 201 of IPC shows that SIT probe has found evidences that Pari was murdered and her body was destroyed in order to destroy the evidence of rape.
“In order to prove rape charges, forensic and medico-legal reports are considered to be the clincher in criminal justice system of India. But here the corpus delicti (body of the crime) is absent. SIT has no medico-legal opinion,” Mahapatra observed.
However, it needs mentioning that in its submission before Orissa HC, SIT had informed the court that semen stained clothes of the 5-year old girl was found. And SIT had sent the sample for medical examination.
Highly placed sources said only after getting conclusive results of semen stain (genetics) examination, SIT has decided to go for the arrest of the purported accused in Pari case.
How Many Days DNA remain on Clothes?
“Unless laundered or washed, the DNA on clothes can remain up to 8 months. Even if it is exposed to water, the DNA can remain on the clothes for 2-weeks in winter. But in summer, the lifespan will reduce to 4-24 hours, if the sample had an exposure to water,” explained senior doctor in Forensic department of Capital Hospital.