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Bhubaneswar, Jan 23 (IANS) The state administrative tribunal in Odisha has quashed the dismissal order served by the state government on a police officer in connection with the gang-rape in Pipili area of Puri district, a lawyer said Wednesday. Former inspector in-charge of the Pipili Police station Amulya Kumar Champatiray who was suspended Jan 13, 2012, and subsequently dismissed about 10 days later for not taking necessary action in the crime had moved the tribunal against the government action. The tribunal quashed the order saying that action against Champatiray had been taken without giving him chances to defend, his lawyer M.K. Balabantaray told reporters here. The tribunal, however, in its order Jan 17, a copy of which was received by the concerned lawyers Wednesday, said the government may initiate departmental proceedings against him, he said. Champatiray was accused of not registering a case after a 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by some people near her village Arjunagoda, 10 km from here, Nov 28, 2011. The woman died June 21 last year in a government hospital in Cuttack, 26 km from here, after undergoing treatment for over six months. The incident had created a political storm and nationwide outrage, prompting state Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy to resign Jan 19 last year on moral grounds after the opposition and the girl's family alleged that he had protected the attackers.
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