Nabarangpur: At least 190 minor girls have been raped in Nabarangpur district between 2022 and August 2025, according to police records, raising serious concerns about child safety. Data from the district police headquarters show 72 cases were reported in 2022, 50 in 2023, 42 in 2024 and 44 through August this year.
Officials and rights groups say the figures highlight the growing vulnerability of children in the district. Activists noted that rape is not only a crime but also an inhuman act that destroys the physical and mental well-being of minors, shattering their education, dreams and future. Survivors often live with lifelong trauma. Observers said a lack of awareness and social apathy is among the key reasons behind the recurring assaults.
Families, schools and communities, they said, are failing to ensure protection, awareness and moral education for children. Although the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act provides for strict punishment, residents argue that fast-tracked trials and harsher sentences are needed to deter offenders. “Protecting minors is not just the responsibility of the government or the law but of every member of society,” said social thinkers, adding that awareness, stronger enforcement, moral education and community participation are essential to uproot the scourge.