One arrested for raping 6-year-old girl in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR ODISHA POLICE HAVE RECEIVED FIVE PLAINTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OF MINORS IN LAST

SIX DAYS. IN CASE OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN, THE EASTERN STATE HAS A LOW CONVICTION RATE OF 6%

: A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped and abandoned on the verandah of school building in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Saturday evening, said police.

The girl was unconscious when she was found and was admitted to hospital, police added.

The girl’s family members alleged in their complaint to the police that she was sexually assaulted and there was an attempt to kill her.

“We have arrested the accused,” said Cuttack (rural) superintendent of police Madhab Chandra Sahu. “We registered a case of rape. We are yet to speak to the child. She is not in a position to talk now,” the police official added.

Odisha police have received five complaints of sexual assault of minors in the last six days.

On Friday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik told the state assembly that protection of women, children and weaker sections of the society “is a priority” for his government. “I would like to reiterate the resolve of my government for providing safety and security to the women and girl children of the state,” the chief minister had said.

In cases of crimes against women, Odisha has a much lower conviction rate of 6% than the all-India average of 19%.

The state topped the National Crime Records Bureau figures in the section “assault or use of criminal force to women with intent to disrobe under section 354 B of IPC (Indian Penal Code)” with 2,117 cases in 2016.

The administration attributes the high number to improved reporting of crimes.