Odisha gangrape: Dharmendra Pradhan criticises CM Patnaik

New Delhi [India], Jan 23 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was conferred with the 'Ideal Chief Minister' award at Pune on Sunday, over the suicide of the alleged rape survivor from Odisha's Koraput.

The Union Minister told media, "Is this what an ideal Chief Minister do? If Naveen Babu (Naveen Patnaik) is even a bit sensitive about the case, then he must take action. It is an extremely sad incident."

Pradhan further accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the state police of ignoring the incident that took place on Monday afternoon.

"It is a very shocking incident that happened in Odisha. State government preferred to ignore it. The victim had even claimed that Director General (DG) of Odisha Police had tried to bribe her to keep quiet. This is a very unfortunate incident."

A class IX girl, who was allegedly gang-raped by four security personnel in combat attire near Kunduli of Odisha's Koraput district on October 10 last year, committed suicide in her residence at Musaguda village on Monday afternoon.

The incident triggered a massive outrage across the state.

On November 18 last year, the girl attempted to kill herself, after which Chief Minister Patnaik ordered a judicial probe into the incident.

On another note, Dharmendra Pradhan had met five members of Border Security Force's women contingent Seema Bhawani from Odisha. These women are in the national capital to perform motorcycle stunts during the Republic Day. (ANI)