Cuttack/BHUBANESWAR: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) team found no evidence of gang rape of the 19-year-old girl from Pipili, who has been undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, sources said. The crime branch probing the case submitted the AIIMS report before the Orissa high court on Friday.
A private TV channel quoting sources said the AIIMS report said it did not find any medical evidence of gang rape. It can't be definitely said if the girl was sexually assaulted on November 29, the report said. The report, however, said an attempt was made to strangulate the girl for more than a minute. A little more time of such an attack could have killed her, the report said.
A four member team of doctors from AIIMS, led by forensic medicine expert Dr T D Dogra, had visited the victim at SCB Medical College and Hospital on January 28 and examined her medically to ascertain the nature of crime inflicted on her. The AIIMS team had submitted its report to the crime branch recently.
State Women's Commission chairperson Jyoti Panigrahi, who had quoted controversy by stating in her "Pipili" report to the government that she did not come across allegation of gang rape, said on Friday the AIIMS report establishes her observation. "I have not gone through the AIIMS report as yet. But what I gathered from news reports, it did not find evidence of gang rape. Branding the girl as a gang rape victim without any basis is an insult to her," she said.
Panigrahi said she will file another report to the government in the Pipili case, taking into consideration the new developments. "After going through the AIIMS report, I will send a fresh report to the government, incorporating my observation and suggestions," she said.
Meanwhile, the crime branch also filed a status report on the investigation of the case before the division bench of Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice B N Mohapatra. The report cited that the investigation of the case is still on. Clothes worn by the victim at the time of incident have been collected and sent to the forensic laboratory for chemical examination. The report of the examination is expected in two weeks' time, it said.
The SCBMCH submitted a status report on the health of the victim as well. The report cited that though all her vital organs are functioning properly there is no significant improvement in her health and that her condition is static. "The high court has fixed the next date of hearing of the case after two weeks," said Prabir Das, petitioner of the case.
The culprits allegedly gang-raped and attempt to kill the girl in November last year for being a court witness in a molestation case. She has slipped into a semi-comatose condition ever since. Human rights activist Prabir Das had filed a petition in the HC seeking justice and proper treatment for the victim.
Meanwhile chief minister Naveen Patnaik visited the victim in SCB hospital on Friday and enquired about her health.
