Angul: Police Saturday handed over the minor rape survivor to her father on the premises of district headquarters hospital, but in the process they allegedly violated the Juvenile Justice Act-2015.
When accused Sibu Patnaik was produced in a court, Angul SP had said the chargesheet would be filed within 15 days. However, till date police are yet to file it.
To file the chargesheet, documents like the victim’s birth certificate was required. Police personnel had visited the village of the victim in Maharashtra to get those. In the process while returning here they also brought along the father of the minor girl.
Saturday the police handed over the minor, who was undergoing treatment to her father and informed the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) vide letter no-2348/19.
However, the committee disapproved of the police move. Chairman in-charge of the CWC, Debashis Pattanayak, accused the police of violating the Juvenile Justice Act-2015. He asked as to why the police have failed to send the minor to Adruta Child Care as instructed.
The committee also wrote a letter asking the police what safety measures have been taken for the victim and her father. The two are currently staying at a relief camp set up at the Angul Stadium here. Both have been asked to appear Sunday before the CWC.
When contacted, Angul police station IIC Ramesh Chandra Bisoi said they do not know how they have violated the Juvenile Justice Act-2015. “Our main focus is to punish the accused which we will certainly do,” he said.
PNN