Phulbani/Kotgarh: Amid the state-wide outrage over the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl at a village under Kotgarh police limits in Kandhamal district, another case of a minor’s rape has been reported from the same area Monday.
The girl is battling for life in Phulbani district headquarters hospital (DHH) after being rescued in a critical condition, it was learnt. Meanwhile, police have sealed all entry and exit points to the town and launched a manhunt to nab the rapist. The accused is absconding after the incident came to the fore.
According to sources, the victim was a student of Class VIII. Since her school is situated nearly 15 km from the village, her family members had rented a house in Kotgarh.
According to a complaint lodged by the family members of the girl, a relative (married man) forcibly took the girl while she was returning home from school. He kept her at different places for two days wherein he outraged her modesty, they alleged.
The girl had last attended school September 21. Family members grew apprehensive and searched for her after she did not return home till late in the night. With no trace of her whereabouts, family members lodged a missing person’s complaint with the local police.
After two days, a relative brought the girl and left her in her house. When questioned, the girl revealed that she was being raped by a relative (a married man). Her parents then lodged a complaint. The incident has spread outrage in the village as people demanded immediate arrest of the accused.
It may be noted here that a mutilated body of a Class IV girl was recovered from a forest at a village under Kotgarh police limits Saturday.
According to sources, the minor after returning from school at around 2 pm had gone near a water body to relieve herself. When she did not return home after several hours, her family lodged a complaint with the police.
Kotgarh police reached the village and began a search. Later, the girl’s body was found in a forest, a few metres from the water body. Locals said unabated liquor sale in the area is the main reason behind such crimes.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested a local youth, Gagan Pradhan, who has confessed to the crime during interrogation. He confessed that he lured the girl with a chocolate and raped her twice before strangulating her in the fear of getting exposed.
PNN
