Koraput: The Odisha high court appointed three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started investigation into the Kunduli gang rape and suicide case from Monday.

The Team comprising of Southern Rang DIG (Berhampur) Satyabrata Bhoi, South Western Range DIG (Koraput) Shefeen Ahmed K and Northern Range DIG(Sambalpur) Himansu Lal held its first meeting, here today. The team met the family members of the victim and also questioned the then IIC of Pottangi police station.

A minor girl in Kunduli area of Koraput was alleged gang raped by five uniformed persons on October 10, 2017. The girl later committed suicide by hanging herself on January 22, 2018. .

The Team, when it met the family members of the victim, it was by the mother, brother and aunt that they were not satisfied with the investigation into the case.

“I want justice. Like my daughter died without justice, I will also die the same way if justice is denied,” said the mother of the minor girl after the meeting.

“We don’t believe in SIT investigation. I hope we get justice soon be it through SIT, CBI or the Crime Branch,” said the brother of the deceased girl.

The Team also questioned the then IIC of Pottangi Police Station, Dev Kumar Gomango in connection with the case.

A division bench of Odisha high court comprising of chief justice KS Jhaveri and jusice KR Mohapatra on November 18, 2019 had ordered SIT probe into the incident while considering a petition for CBI probe by the victim’s mother . The court has posted the next hearing on December 16, 2019.

The chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, had ordered a judicial probe into the incident on December 26, 2017.