Mayurbhanj/Balasore/Jagatsinghpur/Dhenkanal: In what could be termed as a black day for the state government questioning its efficacy in maintaining law and order and claims of providing security to women, Thursday alone, four minor girl rape cases were reported from across the State.
In the first such incident, a dibyang girl was allegedly raped by a youth in Hatia Village under Gorumahisani police limits of Mayurbhanj district. The incident reportedly occurred when the girl had gone to take bath in a nearby pond.
Police have detained the accused, identified as Jagdish Giri, for interrogation. He will be forwarded to court today, said police.
In Nilagiri of Balasore district, a 9-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 35-year-old youth, identified as Guba Singh.
As per reports, the accused had lured the minor girl to his home by promising her to let her watch television and raped her.
"We have recorded the statements of the girl and also of her parents. We have sent the victim for medical test.
The accused has been detained," informed Nilagiri IIC Ramesh Chandra Singh.
In another incident, a five-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped by two minor boys in Kantaballabhapur area under Sadar police limits of Jagatsinghpur district late Wednesday night.
The two minor boys, aged 11 and 13, allegedly sexually assaulted the minor girl, who happens to be their neighbour.
"The trio has been sent to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for medical examination. After getting the reports, we will take necessary action against the accused, informed Jagatsinghpur SDPO Sujogya Mishra.
Similarly, a 12-year-old girl student of a ashram school, who was home for summer vacation, was allegedly raped by a youth who is reportedly her neighbour.
The incident came to the fore after the girl revealed the incident to her parents on Thursday following which they lodged a police complaint.
Meanwhile, police have not revealed anything related to the case.
Odisha has witnessed a rise in rape cases in 2017 compared to the year before, a White Paper tabled by the home department in the Assembly read.
The number of rape cases registered in 2017 was 2,221, up from 2,144 the previous year, it said, adding that chargesheets were filed in just 1401 incidents.
Besides, at least seven minor girls were raped last week and two such incidents have already taken place in last five days.