Bhubaneswar: A six-member team of Odisha’s Crime Branch Police on Saturday began its probe into the setting ablaze of a lady teacher who had refused to withdraw a complaint of molestation against a school inspector in Raygada district of the state.
The team, headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Alok Das, left for Tikiri in the district where the 36-year-old teacher was set on fire by an unidentified man on Sunday. She succumbed to her burn injuries yesterday at a hospital in Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Sharma said the team would verify documents and meet the prime accused, suspended school inspector Netrananda Dansena, who had allegedly molested the teacher in July. Dansena, who had been absconding after the teacher was set ablaze, was arrested on October 30. The cremation of the body took place during the day at the teacher’s home in Puri district. The state government has suspended school district inspector D D Nayak and two policemen of Tikiri police station for not taking action against Dandsena in time. The teacher was the fourth victim to fall prey to sex-related crimes in the state this year.
Opposition parties targeted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accusing him of failing to provide protection. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Jaydev said: “I have requested the Governor to intervene considering the importance of the case. The culprits, whoever they are, must be punished. The state government cannot wash its hands off the case.” Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president and Rajya Sabha MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra asked the Chief Minister to give up his home portfolio which he has been holding since the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government came to power in 2000.
BJP state women’s wing president Simanti Jena said, “No woman in Odisha is safe under the BJD government.” CPI state secretary Dibakar Nayak demanded immediate suspension of the district collector, superintendent of police of Rayagada district as well as the chairperson of the state commission for women. “The hapless lady teacher had drawn attention of all the concerned. Why did the authorities ignored her pleading?” he asked. (PTI)