Priest arrested for raping 4-yr old girl

Cuttack: Cuttack police today arrested Ratikant Das, a priest of a temple at Andoti village under Sadar police limits, from Bhingarpur after a complaint was lodged against him alleging that he had raped a four-year-old girl of the village on Sunday.

Informing news men about the manhunt here, Sanjeev Arora, Cuttack DCP, said, “A case has been registered under Sec 376 of the IPC and the relevant section of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Sadar police station and the victim has undergone preliminary medical examination.”

He further stated, “We have got evidence and the probe is on."

The incident happened when the four-year-old victim had gone to the temple at 6 pm yesterday to offer prayers and handed over fruits to the priest for offerings to the deity.

Finding her alone, the priest allegedly raped the four-year-old, who used to visit the temple along with her grandmother earlier.

The victim fell ill after narrating the incident to her family members on her return home. She was immediately admitted to the nearby Mahidharpada hospital.

The police today recorded the statement of the victim.