HC permits change of parade venue in Kandhamal nun rape case

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday granted permission to a nun to take part in the test identification parade of an accused in a different jail for concern of safety.

The court was hearing a petition by the nun, who was raped during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal, Orissa.

The petition pleaded the court to change the venue of the test identification (TI) parade to Choudwar jail in Cuttack.

Earlier, the Baliguda sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court had ordered for the TI parade to be held in Baliguda, Kandhamal.

After finding it unsafe to travel to Kandhamal, the nun had pleaded the local court to shift the venue. When turned down, the Catholic nun approached the high court.

Reportedly, the SDJM court at Baliguda rejected the nun's plea stating the present situation in Kandhamal was peaceful.

Turning down the order, a single-judge bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanti transferred venue of the parade to Choudwar in Cuttack.

Choudwar jail was also the venue of three identification parades in the nun rape case.

The nun was allegedly raped at K Nungaon area of Orissa's Kandhamal district on August 25, 2008 in the aftermath of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder.

Although 26 persons were earlier arrested in the rape case, only four have been identified. The fourth test identification parade is of Apurba Rout, an accused.

Besides the sensational rape case of the nun, there are several ongoing cases against those involved in rioting and arson during the peak of the violence in 2008-09. However, due to lack of evidence many accused are let off by the fast track courts.

Last month, twenty-five persons allegedly involved in the violence were acquitted due to lack of evidence. They were arrested on charges of rioting and arson.