Phulbani/Kotgarh: In a shocking incident, a Class IV girl was allegedly raped and subsequently killed by the rapist in a village under Kotgarh police limits in Kandhamal district Saturday.
The body of the minor was recovered from a forest near the village pond with injury marks, supposedly teeth marks, due to biting by the accused.
Police arrested a suspect identified as Gagan Pradhan in this connection and launched a probe. The incident spread tension in the area as angry locals demanded a probe and immediate arrest of the accused. Police seized the body and sent it for autopsy.
According to sources, the girl had gone to school Saturday morning. The incident occurred while the girl had gone to relieve herself near the pond, just 100 metre away from her house. However, she did not return home.
Family members grew apprehensive and searched for her and alerted fellow villagers. However, there was no trace of the girl till evening. After a frantic search, the youths of the village spotted the girl’s naked body in the forest near the village pond and alerted the police.
Locals suspected the miscreant might have bitten the throat of the girl while raping.
Although, the police are yet to clarify on the rape angle, villagers claimed that it was a case of rape and murder as per circumstantial evidence.
“An investigation into the matter is underway. The autopsy report will establish the actual cause of the death,” a police officer said.
PNN
