Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe into the Kunduli gangrape and the victim’s suicide incidents.
“The State Government will take immediate steps to for handing over the investigation of the cases to a SIT with a prayer to be monitored by the court,” said the Chief Minister while terming the alleged gangrape case as an extremely tragic incident.
He said the State Government is committed to ensure justice to the victim at the earliest in a most transparent manner.
“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 inquiry besides instituting an independent judicial inquiry with a sitting judge for investigation into the Kunduli tragedy. In a reaction to the SIT probe, the BJP said the Chief Minister’s new probe announcement is nothing but a conspiracy to cover up his Government’s failure. Stating that the Supreme Court has the right to constitute an SIT, BJP State spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said the CM’s announcement has no legality and, hence, meaningless. He said the culprits would be held and punished only if the investigation is handed over to the CBI.