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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Self-immolation cases rising, Odisha govt tells police: Review women's grievances
Amid a slew of cases in Odisha involving young women setting themselves on fire, the state government has asked police to review women's grievances and take proactive measures. On July 12, a 20-year-old student of a leading government college in Balasore district self-immolated over alleged inaction by authorities over her complaint of sexual harassment by a professor. In the month since then, at least three other such cases were reported at different parts of the state. The Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW) of the Odisha Police on Tuesday asked all SPs to review all pending grievances and fresh grievances of women and girls that have been reported and to take proactive measures to prevent them from resorting to self-harm. The SPs have been asked to advise the women and girls found to be distressed due to any ongoing situation to seek mental health support at the district level or through Tele-MANAS. CAW&CW inspector S Shyni, in a letter to all SPs, said studies have shown that the reporting and portrayal of suicidal behaviour in the media have potentially negative influences and facilitate suicidal acts. 'Anecdotal evidence of the negative influence of media reporting is increasingly accumulating in the Odisha context too, as many girls/women have taken recourse to the same method of self-immolation for committing suicide since the Balasore incident,' the letter said. Instructions have been issued to organise awareness campaigns and workshops to screen and map pre-existing vulnerabilities among teenagers, who are said to be a higher-risk category, in coordination with various other government departments. The initiative aims to promote mental health awareness, build resilience, and encourage timely help-seeking. They have also been asked to sensitise mediapersons regarding the reporting of suicide cases, understanding the sensitivity and potential negative influences. Considering the increase in the number of suicide cases, police across the state have launched awareness drives against suicide and to put an end to an alarming pattern of self-immolation by women and girls. Taking a dig at the BJP government over the 'heartbreaking pattern', former Odisha chief minister and current Opposition Leader Naveen Patnaik said the desperation of the victims is not just a personal tragedy, but reflects the failure to hear their issues. 'The BJP administration is failing to create confidence in the system where our daughters feel safe, valued and heard,' he wrote on X.
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Odisha Crime Branch seeks TI parade, remand in Gopalpur gangrape case as probe intensifies
BERHAMPUR: Continuing its investigation into the Gopalpur beach gangrape case, the Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW & CW) of the Odisha Crime Branch on Thursday moved the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Rural) Court in Berhampur seeking permission to conduct test identification (TI) parade of the 10 accused and police remand of the six adult suspects. Police said prime accused Pramod Nayak (23) of Hiundata village in Purushottampur, was jailed in two separate cases - attempt to murder and making bombs - a few years back. He was a BTech dropout and worked at an electronics factory in Bengaluru. He recently returned home on leave. Pramod and other accused including four juveniles were arrested late in the night on June 15 (Sunday), a few hours after allegedly gang-raping the 20-year-old, a Plus Three student, at Gopalpur beach. Medical examinations of the survivor and the accused were conducted at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur on June 16. Blood and other samples were collected for DNA testing. On Tuesday, all the six adult accused were remanded to judicial custody while the four minors were presented before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). Professor Sudipta Das of MKCGMCH said the test results had not arrived till late Thursday evening. She revealed that during the medical test, the rape survivor informed doctors that the accused had used condoms. This indicates that the perpetrators not only came prepared to commit the crime but also took measures to destroy evidence. Habitual offenders resort to such methods, she added. An eight-member team of the CAW & CW led by IG S Shyni reached Berhampur on Wednesday to take charge of the probe. The team visited the crime scene and recorded statements of the survivor and her male friend, who had accompanied her to the beach. Sand samples, cigarette stubs, and other materials from the crime scene were also seized. The incident was tagged as a Red Flag case. As per norms, forensic evidence in Red Flag cases are prioritised for examination at forensic laborotaries. (SFSL) at Bhubaneswar, confirmed FMT Professor Sudipta Das of MKCGMCH.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Govt plans Rs 30cr Gopalpur beach revamp
1 2 3 Berhampur: State govt has decided to develop Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district at a cost of Rs 30 crore, which includes its illumination and beautification, commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said on Wednesday. The statement of Jena, who is the Gopalpur MLA, comes in the wake of the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old college student by 10 people at the popular beach resort on Sunday. The tourism department has already sanctioned Rs 30 crore for the development of the beach, Jena said. "The plan includes illumination of the entire beach from Haripur to Baxipllai, it's beautification, and development of a yoga centre," the minister said. Lack of illumination on Gopalpur beach was an issue apparently raised by the police in the case of the recent gang rape. Opposition parties had also raised question mark about the safety of tourists, especially women, in the state. On Wednesday, Jena visited the crime scene. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken the matter very seriously, the minister said, adding that the CM has already directed the police to take exemplary action against those involved in the heinous crime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The minister praised the police for arresting all 10 accused within 24 hours of the incident. He emphasised the need for intensified patrolling on the beach by inducting another all-terrain vehicle. Presently, there is only one such vehicle at Gopalpur police station. "We hope the crime against women and children wing (CAW&CW) of the crime branch, which was entrusted with the investigation, will complete their probe in a time-bound period and ensure the survivor gets justice soon," Jena said. Meanwhile, a three-member team of the crime branch, led by Inspector General (CAW&CW) S Shyni, visited the crime scene and spoke to the local police. The team also questioned the four teenagers, suspected to be involved in the alleged rape, housed in a observation home. Police have requested the juvenile justice board to treat the juveniles as adults, sources said. The six adult accused were produced before judicial magistrate first class, rural, Berhampur, on Tuesday night. Ritika Jena, the magistrate, ordered them to remain in judicial custody for 14 days after rejecting their bail pleas, sources said.
