Kendrapara: Five staff members of a private English-medium school in Rajkanika, including four teachers and a peon, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the gangrape of a Class VII girl student over the past two months.
According to Sukanta Kumar Patra, SDPO of Pattamundai, one of the arrested teachers, a woman, is charged with abetment in the crime. The accused have been identified as Biswaranjan Sahoo, Rashmikant Biswal, Chandan Prusty, Minati Bai (all teachers), and Rashmi Rana (school peon).
Police allege that three teachers and the peon repeatedly sexually assaulted the 12-year-old girl inside the school premises, threatening her and her younger brother to prevent her from speaking out.
The victim informed her father, who had recently returned from work outside the state, and he immediately contacted the State Child Helpline. The case was then reported to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Kendrapara.
A four-member team led by CWC chairperson Swagatika Parida, including members of the District Child Protection Unit and the Child Helpline Coordinator, visited the victim’s home and conducted an inquiry.
Acting on the CWC’s directions, the father lodged a formal FIR at Rajkanika police station Saturday. Rajkanika police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and began an investigation.
All five accused have been arrested, said Sanjay Kumar Mallick, IIC of Rajkanika Police Station.
The victim’s statement will be recorded under Section 180 of BNSS, and she, along with the accused, will be produced before the ADJ-cum-Special POCSO Court under Section 183 BNSS. The child will also be presented before the CWC for support and protection, officials added.
