Kendrapara: Cases of sexual abuse of minor girls, mostly by relatives or neigbhours, have risen sharply in Kendrapara district. In a latest case, a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her uncle.
Rajkanika police arrested the 45-year-old accused, Ranjan Nayak, a resident of Barunadiha village. Though the crime took place April 24, it came to light after the victim’s father lodged a complaint Sunday.
ICC Sandhyarani Behura said, as per the complaint, Ranjan lured the four-year-old girl by offering her chocolates. He took her to a nearby bamboo bush, some 200 metres away from the victim’s house, and raped her. The girl complained about this after her private parts began having problems.
When the victim’s father confronted Ranjan, the latter threatened him with serious consequences if he approached the police. The father refused to be cowed down by threats and went to the police.
Acting on the FIR, the Rajkanika police registered a case. Monday, the police arrested the accused and sent him for a medical examination to Rajkanika CHC. The victim was examined Sunday. The accused was produced in a court and was remanded to jail custody after his bail plea was rejected by the court, the IIC said.
Last week, an FIR was lodged at the Marshaghai police station after a four-year-old girl was raped April 22 near Paika riverbed by a juvenile from Tikhiri village. A 35-year-old married man attempted to rape a seven-year-old tribal girl Sunday morning. In an inebriated state, he courted the girl while she was begging at the Tinimuhani market complex. Police have arrested the accused in all the three cases.
