HC allows Kandhamal Nun's Plea on TI Parade

July19, 2012: In India, The Orissa High Court on Wednesday allowed a petition of Kandhamal nun, who was allegedly raped during the communal riots of 2008, for conducting test identification (TI) parade in Choudwar jail here to identify an accused arrested recently in the case.

Turning down an order passed by Baliguda SDJM court on the issue, the single-judge bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanti directed that the TI parade be conducted in Choudwar jail as prayed by the Baliguda Catholic Church nun. The state crime branch arrested an accused Apurba Rout in May for his alleged involvement in the 2008 case. While Apurba is currently lodged in a G Udaygiri jail, the crime branch police wanted to conduct a TI parade in the same jail to build up evidence.

But the nun made a plea before the Baliguda court in June this year saying it would not be safe for her to go to Baliguda to participate in the TI parade as there is a threat to her life in the locality. When the local court had rejected her plea, she challenged it in the High Court.

The nun was allegedly raped in K Nuagaon of Kandhamal district on August 25, 2008, during the communal riots which occurred after the murder of religious leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples. At least 27 persons have been arrested in this connection and the nun had participated in two TI parades at the Choudwar jail here earlier as per the direction of the High Court.