Govt taking all measures for expeditious trial of recent rape

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today assured the Odisha Assembly that his govermment would take all measures to ensure that the recent rape cases are tried expeditiously.

Patnaik said this in the assembly while giving reply to the debate on demands for grants for Home and the General Administration and Public Grievance departments.

His statement assumes significance as at least seven minor girls were raped last week and two such incidents have already taken place in last five days.

However, unsatisfied over the chief minister's reply, opposition BJP members staged a walk out in the assembly.

Dubbing the recent rape incidents as "highly condemnable", Patnaik said the police have taken timely action in arresting the accused persons in the shortest possible time.

"I want to assure this august house that my government will spare no efforts in ensuring that they (rape cases) are tried expeditiously," Patnaik said adding that safety and security of women, children and other vulnerable groups remained the top priority of the state government.

In a major development, 192 assistant public prosecutors have been recruited to strengthen the State Prosecution Service, the chief minister said and added that the Standing Committee's recommendations for initiating appropriate measures to increase the conviction rate is a welcome one.

He said the law and order situation in the state has by and large remained peaceful. The overall crime situation is also well under control. No major Left Wing Extremism activity has been notices in the affected districts, the chief minister said.

Patnaik said the recruitment to the Maoists organisation has declined and mass support base of the organisation has been rendered weak due to pro-active security measures and development interventions.

"Our intelligence based operations have yielded siginificant results in 2018 with netralization of five hard core cadre and 12 arrests," Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister also said the state government has placed emphasis on strenthening the capacity of the police by upgrading operational capability and providing requisite human resources and infrastracture.

To enhance air connectivity within Odisha, the state govenrment has initiated action for upgradation of air strips at various places for which a provision of about Rs 100 crore has been made.

Refering to anti-corruption activities, Patnaik said the state government has decided to set up a State vigilance Academy at Bhubaneswar for upgrading the professional knowledge and skills of the vigilance officers.

He said, the state vigilance, during the year 2017 and till March 31, 2018, has registered 603 criminal cases and has also initiated 765 enquiries against the public servants. Two hundred seventy nine persons have been arersted in vigilance cases and 44 public servants have been dismissed from the government service.