Shame! 4 minor girls including mentally-challenged raped in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: At a time when senior police officials are gearing up to launch awareness drives to put a check on sexual abuse of minor girls, such incidents continue surface from different parts of the State.

Rape of four minor girls including a mentally-challenged was reported from Salepur, Cuttack and Balasore today.

In Cuttack, a minor girl is now battling for her life after she was subjected to sexual assault by a 60-year-old man.

Sources said the elderly man allegedly raped the 11-year-old minor when she had gone to his shop to buy ice cubes in Madhupatna Police Station area. Following the incident, the survivor has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition while the accused is absconding.

In another incident, a mentally-challenged minor girl was allegedly raped by one 56-year-old Manmath Jena in Balasore.

Sources said Jena raped the mentally-challenged minor girl when her parents were not present in the house.

Following the incident, the minor girl's family lodged a complaint at Baliapal Police Station while the accused is absconding after the incident, informed sources.

Similarly, another minor girl was allegedly raped by one of her relatives in Salepur of Cuttack district. Though the family of the survivor in Salepur has not lodged any police complaint, members of Childline have filed an FIR in connection with the incident.

In another incident, a 15-year-old-girl was allegedly raped by one of her cousins in Jaganath prasad area in Bhanjanagar. The accused youth has been detained by police, sources said.