Minor's gang-rape to be probed by SIT under court supervision:

The Odisha government will set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into cases related to the alleged gang-rape and suicide of a girl at Kunduli in Koraput district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today.
He said the probe would be carried out under the supervision of a court and asserted that the state government wants that justice was delivered at the earliest and in the most transparent manner.
However, the opposition BJP and the Congress demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.
The chief minister said in addition to transferring the case from the police to Odisha Crime Branch, the state government has also ordered an independent judicial inquiry by a sitting judge nominated by the High Court.

"Because of the extraordinary circumstances of the case, my strong faith and conviction in the principle of natural justice and commitment to safety and dignity of women", the state government will hand over the probe to the SIT to be monitored by a court, Patnaik told reporters here.
Describing the alleged gang-rape extremely tragic, he said, "It is my firm belief that law should take its own course and justice should be done without fear or favour."

Leader of the BJP Legislative party K V Singh Deo said the people of Odisha have lost faith in the state government's manner of handling the Kunduli and the victim was forced to commit suicide for not getting justice.

"SIT probe is nothing but to merely delay justice to the deceased," Singhdeo said.
Former MP and senior Congress leader Pradip Majhi said, "The state government seems confused over the incident. As the chief minister has no faith on the police, he set up a court- monitored SIT for investigation. We demand a CBI probe into the matter."
A 14-year-old girl of Musaguda village in Kunduli area of Koraput district was allegedly raped by four men in uniform on October 10 last year. She committed suicide at her house on January 22 this year.
Apart from crime branch, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also initiated a probe into the matter.

A five-member team of the human rights body, led by DSP Rabi Singh, yesterday met the victim's family members and enquired about details of the incident.
The National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) has also decided to probe into the matter.