Bhubaneswar: Nayagarh District Magistrate Poma Tudu and Superintendent of Police Pratyush Diwakar today appeared before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) via video conferencing in the case pertaining to the sensational alleged kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old girl of Jadupur village of the district.
Sources said that the duo briefed the national child rights protection body on the status and progress made in the investigation in the case for about 40 minutes through video conferencing which started around noon today.
The NCPCR on December 4 had issued summons to the District Magistrate and SP of Nayagarh for in-person presence in the matter of alleged kidnapping and murder of the five-year-old girl.
The national child rights body had claimed that it has received complaints aligning human organ trafficking.
Earlier on November 26, the NCPCR had issued a notice to the Odisha government seeking a detailed factual report from the Chief Secretary on the investigation in the alleged kidnap and murder of a five-year-old girl.
The national child rights protection body had sought the report from the Chief Secretary within ten days of issuance of the letter taking suo moto cognizance of media reports given the seriousness of the subject while requesting to ensure speedy investigation.
The Commission had mentioned in the notice that it has already taken up the matter with the District Collector and SP Nayagarh on November 25 to investigate/inquire in the matter.
A five-year-old girl, daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver had reportedly gone missing while playing near her house at Jadupur village in Nayagarh district on July 14.
Later, her skeletal remains stuffed in a gunny bag were recovered from the backyard of her house nine days later.
The parents of the child had attempted self-immolation outside the Assembly accusing of police inaction and of police shielding the culprit as he was politically well-connected.
The incident led to massive public outcry forcing the government for ordering a probe by the Crime Branch.
As the Opposition parties in the State remained adamant demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and resignation of Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo, the government yielded for a High Court sitting judge monitored probe by the SIT.
A five-member SIT constituted by the State government comprising of competent officers led by IPS officer Arun Bothra has begun its probe into the ghastly incident.
The minor girl’s parents have alleged that their daughter was killed for her organs by one Babuli Nayak and his accomplices.
They have further alleged that Nayak is the kingpin of a child lifting racket and is involved in the human organs trade.
Meanwhile, Bothra has made several trips to Jadupur and Jogiapalli(where the parents of the deceased five-year-old are currently putting up after being allegedly externed from their village by Babuli Nayak’s henchmen).
During his course of visits, Bothra has spoken to the parents of the five-year-old, raided Babuli Nayak’s residence and interrogated him.
The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) Chairperson Sandhyabati Pradhan has also visited the village to conduct an inquiry into the ghastly incident and spoken to the parents of the deceased five-year-old.
