Anger at bail for Orissa nun rape accused

Judge says not enough evidence linking suspects to case

Ajay Kumar Singh, Bhubaneswar
India
May 12, 2011

Church workers and social activists have voiced shock and dismay at an Orissa High Court ruling to grant bail to two men accused of raping a nun.

“We’re aghast,” Bipra Charan Nayak, convener of the Kandhamal Survivors Association, said today.

On May 9, Justice Chittaranjan Das granted bail to Pandit Bishimajhi and Jatia Sahu saying he could not find enough evidence linking them to the alleged rape.

The nun was allegedly raped on August 25, 2008 during anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district.

Bishimajhi and Sahu masterminded the 2008 violence including the nun’s rape, Nayak said.

The pair later went into hiding, with the police only catching up with them in June last year.

Nayak said Bishimajhi was the local secretary of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People’s Party) and is a close associate of local legislative assembly member, Karendra Majhi.

Bishimajhi and Sahu were “guiltier than their cronies, who were involved in the rape case,” Nayak added.

He criticized police “lethargy “as having helped the two get bail.

Sister Justine Senapati, an activist, said there are 15 cases against the two for organizing rapes, arson and killings.

“How could they get bail?” asked the member of the Sister of St. Joseph’s Annecy congregation.

Bishimajhi frightens local police, she said, recalling how the police did nothing despite repeated pleas for help from the raped nun.

Granting bail “will have a definite impact on the case as well as on justice and peace in the area,” she said.

Shibani Singh, vice-president of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese’s women wing, said the ruling shocked and frightened her.

“It is a blot on women’s dignity and justice,” she added.

The police have named 30 people in connection with the alleged rape and have arrested 22 of them.

Of the 22 accused, 17 have managed to get bail.

IE14198

301 words

After reading this article, people also read

Chinese celebrate World Day of Prayer May 24, 2012

Tamil supporters start hunger strike May 24, 2012

Govt eyes ‘child labor-free zones’ May 24, 2012

Activists slam govt's UN denial May 24, 2012

No justice after police killings: Amnesty May 24, 2012

Coalition urges black sand mining ban May 24, 2012

UN to scrutinize Indian progress on rights May 23, 2012

Parliament passes child abuse act May 23, 2012

Gordon Jacobs

I would be keen to hear what the Catholic Church and the
Apostolic Nuncio Catholic Church New Delhi , the cardinals and Bishops are doing about this issue. Wonder if they have the time or even approach Mama Mia at New delhi to ensure we Catholics/Christians get a unbiased judgement. Or as usual will this be swept under the carpet and forgotton about, which is the usual practice. There are various issues like illegal mining, deforstation, for example that the church gets involved with, In fact these are the issues they need to take up, horse ,foot and artillary. Hope they are listening
Smgenny

Dont lose hope keep pursuing the case!
Rjvallayil

It is a shameful thing for our great nation where people are denied justice. I wonder if their own girl children,mother and sisters are safe in their home ! What a pity we are living among these type of animals and men who help them to get out of it easily. I pity you and ashamed of this incident.
I pray that justice will be granted.
Gordon Jacobs

You are very true and correct, we have politics that rides above the rest of all issues.
However we also have weak leadres in our cardinals ans Bishops. Like all issued we need to tackle fire with fire and our religious leaders need to react. They react to enviorment and political issues yet refrain to react to these important community issues.The blame is with us. Why cant the pope’s Rep at New Delhi take this up with Mama Mia?