Ignace Barwa, father of the nun who was allegedly raped during the Kandhamal riots, has left it to Goddess Durga to get justice.
“I am busy with preparations for the Dussehra festival. Let the Goddess punish the culprits,” said Ignace, 59, whose second daughter was allegedly raped during a mob attack at K. Nuagauon village of Kandhamal on August 25.
Ignace, and his wife Rezina, 51, are living at Dakra village under Dhama police station area for the last 27 years. At Dakra, a backward village just 45 km from Sambalpur district headquarters, only one of the 60 families — Ignace’s — belongs to the Christian community.
The victim’s frail mother looked stark, bereft of any emotion. She said, “My daughter rarely comes here. But it is very painful for a mother to know that her daughter has been raped. I pray to God that no mother on earth should face this fate of mine.”
According to the victim’s younger brother, her sister left home after completing her Plus II. She underwent a nun-training programme in Jharsuguda. The 29-year-old girl was working in Kandhamal for the past two years.