Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) through its Regional Office in Bhubaneswar, urging immediate intervention in the “shocking incident” of gang rape and subsequent pregnancy of a minor tribal girl in Koraput district.
The memorandum, addressed to the NCST Chairman, highlighted the grave details of the case, registered as PS Case No. 70/2025 at the Women’s Police Station. The victim, a minor tribal girl from Dhabgaon village in Borigumma block, was allegedly raped repeatedly by Rajendra Bhatra, son of a local MLA representative from Saniguda village, Sanpuria panchayat.
According to the complaint filed by the victim’s widowed mother at the Jaipur Women’s Police Station, Bhatra had been sexually assaulting the minor for two years under the false pretext of marriage, following an initial meeting at a wedding party. The heinous crime came to light when the girl was discovered to be five months pregnant.
The BJD has expressed serious concerns that attempts are being made at the administrative level to suppress the incident due to the accused’s father’s political affiliations, potentially denying justice to the minor tribal girl.
A BJD delegation, including Media Coordinator and Spokesperson Dr. Lenin Mohanty, Dr. Priyabrat Majhi, spokesperson Tumbanath Panda, Mihir Ray, Narayan Jena, Ipsita Sahu, Biswapratap Sahu, Arup Srichandan, and Sophia Alam, submitted the memorandum. The party vowed to continue its struggle until the victim receives justice and the accused is immediately arrested.