Congress today demanded resignation of Odisha Women & Child Development Minister Usha Devi in the wake of gangrape of a 16-year-old girl in her Assembly constituency.
"As women and children are not safe in her own constituency, Chikiti, Usha Devi has no moral right to continue as minister. She should resign immediately," said state Congress spokesperson Sulochana Das.
The girl on March 28 complained before Ganjam district SP that she was kidnapped by five persons on March 9 and was raped for 10 days before being left in a forest near Ankuli located in Chikiti.
A delegation of state Congress women's wing headed by its president Sasmita Behera met Inspector General of police, Berhampur, Amitabh Thakur, and in-charge SP (Berhampur) Asish Singh and urged them to arrest the five accused immediately.
The delegation, however, could not meet the victim, who was lodged in an observation home for girls as they did not take prior permission from collector.
"We demand a high-level investigation into the incident and arrest of the accused on the basis of the FIR lodged with police," said Das.
No one has been arrested so far in the case, said Chikiti sub-divisional police officer P C Jena.
The police produced the rape survivor before the district Child Welfare Committee after conducting medical test and recording her statement before magistrate.
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