Nayagarh girl’s murder: NCPCR summons collector, SP

BHUBANESWAR: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Friday issued summons to district collector and SP of Nayagarh to appear before it on December 9 through video conferencing in the matter of alleged kidnapping-murder of a five-year-old girl in Nayagarh.
In its summons, the NCPCR told collector Poma Tudu and SP Pratyush Diwakar to appear before it with detailed action taken report (ATR) in the matter, copy of FIR and other relevant documents.
The commission reminded the officers that considering seriousness of the matter, it had asked for an ATR within 10 days on November 25. “But till date no response/reply has been received from your end and as the matter is of serious nature it cannot be delayed further,” it wrote.
The commission said it had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter. A BJP team led by its national spokesperson Sambit Patra had met NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo to form a fact-finding team and do a spot inquiry into the alleged murder, which has sparked a political row. “I am thankful to the commission for its action,” Patra tweeted.
In another development relating to the murder, the BJP Mahila Morcha, women’s wing of the saffron party, on Friday gheraroed the residence of agriculture and higher education minister Arun Sahoo seeking his resignation. “We will continue our fight till Pari (the victim girl) gets justice. Minister Arun Sahoo must resign because he would otherwise influence probe. The case should be handed over to CBI,” said BJP Mahila Morcha president Smruti Patnaik.
A special investigation team led by IPS officer Arun Bothra has been probing the alleged murder of the girl at Jadupur village in Nayagarh district in July. The opposition BJP and Congress have been targeting the government on the issue ever since the girl’s parents attempted self-immolation in front of the state assembly on November 24. While the BJP has been seeking the Sahoo’s ouster accusing him of shielding the accused, the Congress has demanded CM Naveen Patnaik’s resignation on moral grounds.