Nun’s plea might be heard on Tuesday

CUTTACK: The Orissa high court is likely to discuss on Tuesday a petition filed by the Catholic nun who was allegedly raped in Kandhamal. The nun had moved high court seeking a direction to prosecution to conduct the identification parade of the accused outside Kandhamal district, either in New Delhi or somewhere outside Kandhamal district, possibly Bhubaneswar or Cuttack.

The 29-year-old nun, now undergoing treatment in New Delhi, said she was indisposed to attend the identification parade in Baliguda and also apprehends danger to her life in travelling to Kandhamal. Many anti-social elements are still roaming freely outside the local court, she said.

“On November 10, (when she was summoned to appear in a local court) a large crowd gathered outside the court including a huge crowd of anti-social elements,” alleged the nun who was allegedly raped during mob violence on August 25.

Also apprehending that the identification parade may not be conducted in fairness at Baliguda, she alleged a large number of articles appearing in local Oriya press with an alleged communal slant even questioned the veracity of the assault on her.

“The CM of Orissa has assured a delegation of women’s organisation that the parade proceedings could be done at any other place,” the petition said.