2 minor girls raped in Odisha, 3 including 60-year-old detained

Bhubaneswar: There seems to be no end to the incidents of sexual abuse of minor girls despite extensive awareness campaigns as two more minor girl rape cases were reported in Odisha today.

While 12-year-old girl was allegedly subjected to torture and rape multiple times by an elderly man in Bhubaneswar, another minor girl was raped by two persons including an auto-rickshaw driver in Kandhamal.

In Bhubaneswar, a minor girl was allegedly raped by a 60-year-old contractor under Chandrasekharpur police limits. The accused has been identified as Pramod Singh.

The matter came to light after the minor girl escaped from the clutches of the contractor and narrated her ordeal to a few local residents who then informed the officials of Child Welfare Committee (CMC) on Monday.

According to reports, as the father of the minor girl works as a daily wage labourer at Gujarat, the family had handed over the custody of the girl to the contractor for better education facilities.

However, it is alleged that the contractor Pramod Singh used to torture the minor girl by engaging her in domestic work and raped her repeatedly.

"The minor girl somehow escaped from the house yesterday and reported the matter some locals who then alerted us," said CWC member, Benudhar Senapati.

Following the incident, the concerned contractor has been detained while Commissionerate police has started a probe after registering a case under section 376 of IPC and POCSO Act.

"We have registered a case and the medical examination of the minor girl has been conducted and soon her statements under 164 of CrPC will be recorded after counselling," said Bhubaneswar DCP, Anup Sahoo.

In the second incident, a minor girl was allegedly raped by two persons including an auto-rickshaw driver in Kandhamal district.

Sources said the incident occurred when the minor girl, who was returning home in an auto-rickshaw, was abducted by the driver and his friend and later raped.

"Based on the complaint filed by the survivor's family, both the accused have been arrested," said Phulbani SDPO, Surendranath Murmu.