‘Red Flag’ tag for Salepur rape case

Bhubaneswar: With the Salepur minor girl rape incident snowballing into a major controversy, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police designated it as a ‘Red Flag’ case  on Monday.

“The alleged rape and strangulation case of the minor girl at Salepur has been taken very seriously and tagged under the Red Flag category. The Crime Branch will take steps to appoint a special public prosecutor for better investigation and subsequent prosecution. Process will be expedited to collect DNA, finger print and other material evidences in the case,” stated Santosh Upadhaya, ADG Crime Branch.

“This is the first such case in the State after the government amended the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. “As per the new laws, minimum punishment for rape of a minor girl is 20 years and it can go up to death penalty,” informed Upadhaya.

The six-year-old  was rescued from inside a school campus near her house with deep injuries in her head, face, neck, chest and private parts on April 21. The girl was immediately rushed to a hospital in Salepur and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital where she breathed her last on Sunday

An accused identified as Md Mustafa from the same village has been arrested by the police in connection with the case.