HC directs Balasore SP to monitor probe

CUTTACK : Heat over the alleged gangrape of a college student at Baliapal seems to be mounting with the Orissa High Court on Tuesday directing the SP of Balasore to closely supervise the investigation. The division bench of Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra directed that the investigation should be conducted by an officer not less than the rank of senior inspector. Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate has been directed to conduct regular surveillance of the SCB Medical and its vicinity, where the victim is undergoing treatment. Two guards should be deployed round-the-clock outside her ward, the bench ordered. The directions came in response to a writ petition filed by lawyer Ashish Chandra Rath seeking action against the erring police officials who allegedly did not accept her complaint. He appealed for investigation by the Crime Branch and payment of ` 10 lakh compensation to the victim. The petitioner alleged that on October 13, the victim was picked up by an acquaintance and neighbour Bapuni Das from Dahamunda bus stop in Balasore district while she was waiting for a bus to college. Das allegedly offered to drop her at college on his motorcycle.  It is alleged that three other people joined them on the way and they took her to Baliapal where they had committed the offence by confining her in a room for two days. She was rescued by villagers from near a pond in a semi-conscious state and taken to hospital. Rath submitted that when the family members of the victim went to lodge the FIR the police refused to accept it and only after the incident was made public by the media the case was registered. She was then shifted to the SCB Medical. Considering the case the court has passed the order and has further directed that  all the medical expenses shall be borne from the hospital fund.