Tourists not panic-stricken in Golden Triangle - CM

Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today denied that the tourists, particularly women, were panic-stricken to visit the golden triangle area of Puri and Konark following an incident of gangrape.

''It is not a fact that the dignity of the state has been degraded in any manner owing to such an incident. The tourists, specially women, in general are not panic-stricken to visit the golden triangle area of Puri and Konark, '' Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in the Assembly.

To a question of Mr Dhanurjaya Sidu, the Chief Minister said police arrested four accused immediately after the incident and submitted chargesheet against them within a record period of eight days.

Mr Patnaik said police patrolling in Konark-Puri golden triangle area had been intensified to prevent recurrence of such incident.

Some anti-socials forcibly took away a lady from a passenger bus en route to Puri from Konark, on November three and gangraped her.

Konark Police had registered a case under section 366/376(2)(g) of IPC and the Inspector in-Charge was inquiring into the case.

During the investigation four accused - Gourang Pradhan alias Muna, Santosh Kumar Swain, Ramakanta Dash and Debananda Parida were arrested and forwarded to court. One of the accused Prakash Pradhan was absconding.

The Chief Minister said investigation was conducted expeditiously and chargesheet against the five accused was filed on November 12 under section 366,376(20(g), 354,342,509 and 506 of the IPC.

Further investigation of the case had been kept open under section 173(8) criminal procedure code for collection of more evidence, he said.

UNI