Phulbani: With sharp rise in minor girl rape cases continuing to generate public outcry in Odisha, another incident of sexual assault of a minor girl was reported from Kandhamal district today. Four persons including a juvenile have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to reports, on May 12, a minor girl was allegedly misbehaved by her friend identified as Kishan Sahani and later gang raped by three persons identified as Jitu Digal, Badal Digal and a minor boy of Gudari village near Gudari airstrip in Phulbani.
"A case was lodged at the police station on May 12 by the minor girl. The girl informed that she was in a love relationship with one Srikant Behera and the couple had eloped on May 9 and were staying in Phulbani. On May 11, Srikant came to know that the family members of the girl have decided to file an FIR against him following which he asked the girl to go back to her parents," said Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Khajuripada Police Station, Anita Kiddo.
The IIC further informed that when the girl was waiting for an auto-rickshaw at Maligunda Chhak, she met her two friends identified as Sahil Sahani and Kishan Sahani. Later, the three went for watching a melody show. While returning, Sahil asked Kishan to drop the minor girl at her house. Kishan however took her near Gudari airstrip and started misbehaving with her, said the IIC.
"I told him that I won't go with him but he forcibly took me in his two-wheeler near Gudari and started misbehaving with me. In the meantime, three youths, who were following us, reached the spot. They beat Kishan and he fled. Later, the three thrashed and gang raped me," the survivor stated.
Based on the complaint of the minor girl, police have arrested Srikant, Jitu, Badal and the juvenile. Another accused is absconding and efforts are on to nab him, added the IIC.
On the other hand, on being asked about the incident, one of the accused said that he does not know anything about the matter.