Kendrapada: A watchman and a 13-year-old inmate of a government-funded shelter home for the destitute in Odisha’s Kendrapada district were taken into custody Tuesday for allegedly raping a 16-year-old tribal girl from Jharkhand, police said.
The matter came to light when she was found to be four months pregnant.
The victim, who hails from Jharkhand, was rescued by Childline in Kendrapada June 22, 2023 and lodged at the shelter home by the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Police said she was allegedly sexually assaulted multiple times by the two accused persons during her stay in the shelter home. The 52-year-old watchman was employed at the home while the juvenile was staying at the childcare institute.
She was sent to her home in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district two months ago after her address was traced, Kendrapada District Child Protection Officer Bijay Ketan Sahoo said.
The matter came to light after her mother noticed physical changes and alerted the West Singhbhum CWC. A medical examination confirmed that she was four months pregnant.
The West Singhbhum CWC chairperson filed a police complaint Friday, which was forwarded to Kendrapada Police.
“We have arrested the watchman and booked him under sections of BNS and POCSO Act. Further investigation is underway, and more arrests are likely,” investigating officer Padmalaya Pradhan said.
The juvenile was sent to a correctional home in Anugola.
The district administration has shifted all inmates to another facility and initiated action against the shelter home, Kendrapada CWC chairperson Swagatika Patra said.
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