One more arrest in nun rape case

The accused, identified as Narayan Mohanty, was nabbed from the busy court square area in this district headquarter town by sleuths of the state crime branch police, which is investing the case, a crime branch official said.

Mohanty, said to be a petty businessman based in Raikia, was here in connection with some work when the crime branch police apprehended him, sources said adding that the accused was interrogated by a team of crime branch sleuths.

The Catholic nun was allegedly raped in K Nuagaon of Kandhamal district on August 25, 2008 during the communal riots which broke out after the murder of Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples at Jalespata ashram during Janmashtami festival on August 23.

Saraswati`s murder had triggered largescale violence in Kandhamal district and some other places in which at least 38 people were killed and many rendered homeless.

At least 27 persons have been arrested in connection with the nun rape case so far. The last arrest had been made in May this year when the State Crime Branch police nabbed one Apurba Rout for alleged involvement in the 2008 case.

Soon after his arrest, Mohanty was questioned and taken to Baliguda where he would be produced before the court of the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate by the Crime Branch police shortly, sources said.