The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the civil authorities and police administration of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district to furnish action taken report (ATR) on the alleged gang-rape of a homeless woman for over seven months.
Acting on a petition filed by human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the top rights panel also transmitted the copy of the petition on Wednesday to the chief secretary and the Director General of Police of Odisha for information and action.
The petitioner questioned the efficacy of governance especially at grassroots level in Odisha given the fact that the homeless woman was sexually abused for a prolonged period with police doing precious little to protect the woman in time.
The petitioner sought for legal action against the errant officials in the entire hierarchy, psycho social counseling to the victim with proper rehabilitation and compensation.
The petition also sought for a direction to the State for a comprehensive survey of the destitute, homeless and mentally ill persons in the entire State to prevent recurrence of such dastardly crimes on women in future.