Father's Desperate Plea: 'My Daughter's Life is in Danger!' - Rape Survivor's Safety Under Threat in Shelter Home

In a heart-wrenching plea that underscores the critical need for robust victim protection, the father of a 13-year-old gang rape survivor has urgently appealed to the Odisha government to intervene, alleging his daughter's life is in grave danger within a state-run shelter home. His desperate call for help highlights a disturbing narrative of alleged negligence and repeated threats faced by his child, who is a key witness in a high-profile case.

The young survivor, who endured a horrific gang rape in Pipili in 2020, has been residing at the Baseli Sahi Shelter Home in Puri.

However, instead of finding a safe haven, her father claims she has been subjected to two separate attacks, compelling him to demand her immediate transfer to a more secure facility in Bhubaneswar. "My daughter's life is in danger. She has already been attacked twice. I appeal to the government to shift her to Bhubaneswar immediately for her safety and proper recovery," the distraught father articulated, his voice heavy with fear and frustration.

According to the father, the first incident involved an assault by a male inmate within the shelter home premises, an alarming event for which a report was filed at the Baseli Sahi police station.

Shockingly, the threats did not cease there. He further alleges that his daughter was subsequently attacked by an employee of the shelter home, an incident also reported to the local police. These repeated occurrences have intensified his fears, leading him to believe that influential individuals connected to the original gang rape case might be orchestrating these attacks to silence his daughter or obstruct justice.

Convinced that the current environment jeopardizes both his daughter's physical safety and her psychological well-being, the father has formally written to the Chief Minister, the Director General of Police, and the Chief Secretary, pleading for their direct intervention.

He asserts that the shelter home lacks adequate security measures, leaving vulnerable residents exposed to harm.

Responding to the serious allegations, Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) K Vishal Singh confirmed that investigations are underway regarding the attacks. He noted that one staff member implicated in an alleged assault has already been terminated.

Siddharth Ray, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Puri, also weighed in, assuring that the girl is currently safe and that the CWC is closely monitoring her situation.

Despite these official assurances, the father's anxiety persists. His daughter's original gang rape case is still being heard in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court, making her testimony crucial.

The alleged attacks within a supposed safe space not only threaten her life but also cast a shadow over the justice system's ability to protect its most vulnerable witnesses. The family's plea remains a stark reminder of the continuous challenges faced by survivors seeking both recovery and justice, underscoring the urgent need for a truly secure environment for those who have already suffered unimaginable trauma.