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A nun was likely raped during Kandhamal violence, police said today, as the Orissa government handed over to the Crime branch the probe into the alleged sexual assault of the Catholic woman over one month back after facing flak for lax investigations.
The Crime branch took charge of the probe following a government decision after the report of the medical examination of the 29-year-old nun was collected by the police from hospital yesterday, 38 days after she was allegedly raped in a mob attack.
"The crime branch of state police under the direct supervision of Inspector General of Police (crime) will conduct the investigation," highly placed sources said.
Four persons were arrested and Inspector in-charge of Baliguda police station, K N Rao was suspended with immediate effect as the medical report stated possibility of rape, they said.
"The woman was medically examined and the report received by us suggests possibility of rape," Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar said.
According to the report of the nun's medical examination, there was no external or internal vaginal injury, but semen stains were found inside. The nun's clothes have been sent to the state forensic laboratory for tests.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said stringent action will be taken against those who have committed the "shameful and savage crime". "I am sure those who perpetrated these inhuman acts will be punished," he said.
The four arrested persons are being interrogated, the sources said, adding that they will also undergo medical examination.
Asked whether there had been an attempt to suppress the matter, a senior police officer said, "It is a fact that the nun concerned and Pastor Thomas Chellam were assaulted by a mob. But allegation of rape had not been confirmed all these days."
Initially the police had claimed that they had rescued the Father and the nun from the mob, which was about to kidnap them and that the nun's statement was recorded in the presence of two witnesses.
"Though the nun had denied the rape allegation during recording of her statement, she later given a written complaint on August 25 alleging that she was raped by one person from among the mob. A case was also registered subsequently," the sources added.
The alleged rape incident happened when a mob attacked a prayer hall in Kandhamal district where she worked two days after a VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed triggering attacks on churches. The violence in the state has since left 30 persons dead.
Chellam claimed he was dragged by the mob and kerosense poured over him when he objected to the attack on the nun.
Speaking from Kottayam, Chellam said he was also beaten by the mob when he pleaded for help from the personnel of the Orissa Armed Police standing nearby.
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