Odisha records six cases of sexual assault on minor girls in 24 hours
BHUBANESWAR: THE INCIDENTS COME AGAINST BACKDROP OF POLICE LAUNCHING AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN STATE TO EDUCATE GIRLS ABOUT SAFETY
Six cases of minors being allegedly raped and sexually assaulted in separate incidents were reported in the past 24 hours in Odisha where the state police announced an awareness campaign to educate girls about their safety.
In Nabarangpur district, a Class 8 student was allegedly abducted and raped by two youths when she went to relieve herself on Wednesday. The victim, who lodged a complaint the next day with the help of an NGO Maa Ghara, alleged that one of the youths promised to marry her if she kept the incident a secret.
The accused are yet to be arrested.
In another incident, a 15-yearold girl on Thursday lodged a complaint in Balasore district that she was being sexually abused by a 40-year-old man for a year.
The Class 8 girl, who was undergoing counselling on domestic abuse at the Child Welfare Committee, Balasore, over the last three months, told her counsellors about the abuse.
“The girl was facing domestic abuse at the hands of her stepmother. During counselling, she told us that a man called Chenga forced her into a physical relationship several times. She could not tell this to her stepmother. When we got to know, we informed the district collector. The victim underwent medical examination and her statement was recorded before a magistrate,” said Muktikant Panda, the legal-cum-probation officer of Balasore district child protection unit. Chenga has been arrested.
In the same district, a mentally-challenged 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her 56-year-old neighbour. The girl’s grandfather had taken other kids in his household for administering polio drops when the accused Manmath Jena sneaked in and assaulted the girl.
The accused fled when the girl’s grandmother came. The girl’s grandfather on Friday lodged a complaint at Baliapal police station. The accused is absconding.
In Cuttack city, police arrested a 60-year-old man of coastal Kendrapara district after the parents of a 11-year-old girl complained that she was sexually assaulted almost a fortnight ago.
The girl who suffered major injuries to her private parts was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital on Thursday following which the incident came to light.
Police officials in Cuttack said about 15 days ago the father of the victim had sent her daughter to a nearby shop to get ice cubes. The 60-year-old shopkeeper allegedly gagged the girl and raped her. But the girl did not report the matter to anyone out of fear and shame.
In another case reported from Cuttack district, the members of non-government organisation Childline on Thursday filed an FIR over abuse of minor girl by one of her relatives.
Though the incident happened a week ago, the family of the victim in Salepur did not lodge any complaint out of shame.
In Ganjam district, a 15-yearold girl was reportedly raped by her cousin. Police have detained the accused after filing an FIR.
The Odisha police on Wednesday announced ‘Pari Pain Kathatie’ campaign in which 15 specially designed vans would move around the state between May 28 and June 12 to create awareness on curbing crime against women, particularly minor girls.