Tribals protest alleged gang rape, murder of woman

Demanding a CBI probe into the alleged gang rape and murder of a tribal woman, tribal members of political parties today demonstrated outside the residence of the Malkangiri collector here.
Alleging that the victim's husband was behind the crime along with three of his friends on November 24 at Kudumulguma in the Orkel police station area, they accused police of trying to suppress the incident.
In a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through Collector M Muthukumar, the protesters alleged that S Ray had married the woman about five years ago and perpetrated on her physical and mental torture.
Ray, along with his three friends, had repeatedly raped her on November 24 and administered poison after tying her legs and hands, the memorandum alleged, adding she was then taken to the public health centre at Kudumulguma in a serious condition and died soon after.

Instead of conducting post-mortem, the body was sent to her parental place Bandiguda for burial, it claimed.
The memorandum demanding a CBI probe into the incident alleged that the FIR filed by the sister and mother of the victim was not accepted at the Orkel police station. Instead, police had taken thumb impression of her mother.

After the inspector in-charge of the police station ignored their request to conduct post-mortem or register a case, the leaders approached the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) after which an inquest was done on November 27 digging out the body.
Denying any laxity, police said a case was registered on November 26 and efforts were on to nab the husband of the victim, who was absconding after the incident.

Signatories to the memorandum included zilla parishad chairperson Padmini Muduli of BJD, ex-chairman Manas Madkami of BJD and ex-zilla parishad chairman Ganghdar Buruda of Congress besides many district, block and panchayat level people's representatives.
After the Collector promised prompt action if culpability was established, the protesters said they would withdraw the agitation, but would resume unless action was taken against the guilty within seven days.