Nun Rape case;Naveen welcomes SC verdict

Bhubaneswar,Oct 22 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today welcomed the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the demand for a CBI probe on the alleged rape of a nun in the strife-torn Kandhamal.

Asked to comment on the observation of the Apex court, Mr Patnaik said the government would abide by the court's decision.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal today declined to transfer the investigation of the nun rape case in Kandhamal from Orissa Police to CBI.

The Court expressed the hope that the victim would cooperate with the state police in identifying the culprit.

Adjudicating a petition filed by Archbishop of Cuttack, Rafael Cheenath, the Apex court directed that Central Paramilitary Forces be deployed in Orissa to maintain law and order in the state till the end of December 2008 in view of coming festivals like Christmas.

Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Mr Cheenath, contended that the investigation be handed over to the CBI as the victim had lost complete faith in the state police.

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