The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Nabarangpur district Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) over the kidnapping, gangrape and murder of a minor tribal girl on December 14, 2019 in the district.

The NHRC has asked the report to be submitted within four weeks by February 21.

The 16-year-old tribal girl, who had gone missing from home, was found murdered after being gangraped in Gumundoli village under the Kosagumuda police station in Nabarangpur district on December 14. The incident showed that law and order situation has collapsed in the State with an alarming spurt in cases of rape and murder of women, alleged Tripathy.

On December 13 night, at around 8 pm, the girl had gone out of her house to attend nature’s call since the family does not have a toilet. When she did not return till late night, the girl’s parents searched for her but in vain. On December 14 morning, some villagers while going towards paddy fields, about 500 metre away, found the girl’s body and informed her family members and police.

Her body bore multiple injury marks and police found two jeans trousers from the spot. The girl was studying in Kotpad school but dropped out in Class X. Her father and sister are working as daily labourers in the area.

The Nirbhaya Guidelines have not been followed by the State, the petition pointed out.

This is a classic case of failure of entire State machinery and the State police. Negligence and failure of the Government authorities in acting over the issue of implementing Nirbhaya Guidelines, ensuring mental health and ensuring toilets and benefits of social welfare schemes and strict adherence thereof pose serious question of human rights, Tripathy alleged.

He also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore to be paid to the victim’s family.