Keonjhar: The Keonjhar police Sunday arrested a man for allegedly abducting and raping a 14 years old tribal girl in Telkoi area of the district a week ago. Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Mahendra Nath Murmu identified the accused as Sk Qurban, 46, who lives under Telkoi police station area in the district. The accused is alleged to have been involved in illegal cattle smuggling and other petty business in the area. He was produced in a court following his arrest Sunday evening, Murmu said. According to police, the incident took place when the survivor had gone to the weekly market at Barahadevata July 14. The accused abducted the survivor on his motorcycle and raped her in a desolate place. He then abandoned her on the National Highway-49 and fled.
Meanwhile, worried family members began a search for the girl after she did not return home till late in the night. They finally traced her to a place in Kanjipani Ghat road (NH 49) on the same night and rushed her to the Telkoi Community Health Center (CHC) for treatment. She narrated her ordeal before her mother after her condition improved following treatment. Later, the family members complained to Telkoi police station. Murmu said Qurban went underground soon after the incident. The police’s failure to nab the culprit had sparked resentment and anger among the residents of the area. Finally, a police team, led by sub-inspectors (SIs) Dilip Murmu and Abhay Kulu conducted raids at multiple locations, before managing to arrest him from Karanjia area in Mayurbhanj district, Sunday, Murmu added.
