A 25-year-old youth was arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl in Sambalpur district, Odisha. The incident occurred on Friday when the child was left alone at her grandmother's home.
Incident Details
The survivor, a resident of Rajasthan, had come to visit her grandmother in Odisha a few days ago. On Friday morning, her family members went to Sundargarh for the treatment of the girl's mother, who had allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. The child was left alone at home.
Taking advantage of the situation, the accused, who lives in the neighborhood, allegedly lured the girl with a cold drink and took her to a mango grove on the outskirts of the village, where he raped her.
How the Accused Was Caught
Meanwhile, the girl's aunt and grandmother returned from Sundargarh and found her missing. They began searching for her and eventually reached the mango grove. Seeing them approach, the accused fled the scene.
The child then told her family about the assault. A written complaint was filed, and police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The accused was arrested on Saturday.
Legal Action
The local subdivisional police officer (SDPO) confirmed the arrest and said that further investigation is underway. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody.
