BHUBANESWAR: The State Commission for Women (SCW) has raised serious questions about the role of police as well as doctors in the Pipili gangrape case. In her report which was submitted to the State Government on Thursday, Commission Chairperson Dr Jyoti Panigrahy has questioned how the local police did not think it proper to investigate a case which was prima facie that of partial hanging. She also submitted a copy of the report to Member-Secretary of National Commission for Women Anita Agnihotri who is in the State to inquire into the incident. Sources said the SCW wondered why the Pipili police did not investigate and what exactly happened to the complaint which was lodged by the family of the 19-year-old girl. Initially, there was no clarity on whether the police had registered the complaint and what action was initiated which led to a series of events later, the report suggested. Panigrahy’s report also pointed a finger at the doctors who first examined the victim after the November 29 incident. Since it was a clear case of partial hanging, the doctor at Pipili as well as Capital Hospital should have adhered to the existing norms. As per the legal provisions, any such case should have prompted the doctors to consider it a medico legal case (MLC) and informed the police. This, however, was overlooked and instead the victim was referred from one place to another. “Had the doctors taken view of the case as an MLC, the police would have no option but to investigate since there would have been documentary evidence but it was not followed,” the report suggested. In fact, neither Pipili Hospital nor the Capital Hospital followed any such procedure. The report also took exception to the manner the victim who was first admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital before being discharged. “On December 14, the female was discharged by the SCB authorities without making any advice for further treatment. Ideally, they should have prescribed the family about the future course of action in medication,” the report said. Panigrahy’s report also was critical about the family which did nothing between December 14 and January 7 and kept the girl at home. Had they been proactive and taken up the matter with any of the rights panel, the girl would have got better attention. The SCB Medical also came in for criticism since the girl was initially given a cold shoulder after the State Women’s Commission arranged the victim’s admission at Capital Hospital before she was shifted her to Cuttack on January 7. The same day, she was refused admission since the neurology outdoor was closed while the family took her to pulmonary medicine. Once the SCW came to know about the situation, it took up the matter with the SCB authorities.
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