Berhampur: A five-member all-women Congress fact-finding team on Saturday visited Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, where a 20-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped by 10 men, including four juveniles, on June 15.
The team, led by AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunshi, visited the crime scene and interacted with locals about the state of police patrolling. The delegation also held discussions with SP (Berhampur), Saravana Vivek M.
Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan, a team member, condemned the incident. "The area lacks adequate lighting and police presence despite being a major tourist spot," the MP said.
The team, which includes MPs Praniti Shinde, S Jothimani and former spokesperson Shobha Oza, will tour other areas in the state over the next three days to document incidents of violence against women. "We will submit our findings to the AICC and also meet President Droupadi Murmu," Ranjan added.
She alleged the state govt failed to take women's safety seriously, citing the suspension of Congress MLAs from the assembly after they demanded a debate and committee on the matter. "At least three gang-rape cases have been reported in just a week," she added.
Former Berhampur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu said the BJD was the first to protest against the incident. "Several former MLAs met the SP and demanded swift action. BJD president and former CM Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over such an incident taking place at a tourist spot," he said.
BJP Ganjam district president Saroj Sabat said the state govt had declared the gang-rape case as a ‘red flag' offence. He said the crime branch is investigating the case under the supervision of an IG-rank officer, as directed by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi. "All accused have been arrested, and the chief minister has ordered the harshest punishment for those involved," he said.
