Tribal women join a peace rally in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 24: The state government is tightlipped over the statement of the nun, who narrated her experience of being allegedly raped in Kandhamal two months ago in front of a mob and charged the Orissa police of being “friendly” with the attackers.

Home secretary T.K. Mishra refused to react on the nun’s statement at a news conference in Delhi expressing her lack of faith in Orissa police. “We will faithfully carry out the decision of the Supreme Court,” was all he said.

Sources said whatever facts the nun had stated before the media were placed before the apex court in shape of a four-page statement. The court has ruled out a CBI probe into the alleged rape case and asked the nun to co-operate with the state police in the investigation, the sources said.

Orissa director-general of police Manmohan Praharaj renewed his assurance to the nun to provide her all protection and requested her to co-operate in the investigation. “Let her come to Orissa and participate in the proceedings,” he said.

However, the nun said at today’s news conference: “I don’t want to be a victim of Orissa police once again.”

On October 3, the state government woke up more than a month after the rape, handing over the case to the crime branch and suspending the inspector of local police station for negligence in duty.

The 29-year-old nun had lodged a complaint at Baliguda police station under Kandhamal district on August 26 alleging that she was raped and paraded naked by a Hindu mob the previous day.

The nun, who was working as an administrator at Divyajyoti Pastoral Centre in Kanjamendi village, was hiding herself at an undisclosed place since the incident. Fiftyfive-year-old Father Chellantharayil, who was another victim of mob attack, was now under treatment in Kerala.

After failing to trace her, the crime branch issued a notice to Raphael Cheenath, the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, asking him to share the whereabouts of the victim. Cheenath said: I have nothing to do. She has to respond to the government.”

Crime branch inspector-general Arun Ray said: “We are waiting for the copy of the Supreme Court judgment before taking any action.”