Man arrested for raping minor girl in Cuttack

CUTTACK: The Government Railway Police (GRP) said it has solved a case related to the rape of a nine-year-old girl, who was undergoing rehabilitation at a child care centre (CCI) in the city about five months ago, and arrested the accused.

The accused, Lokanath Bhoi alias Bhegu of Biragovindpur in Satyabadi police district of Puri, had been staying at a relative’s house in Jobra Nadikula Sahi. Bhegu sold mushrooms in the area and was known to the victim’s family. He lured the girl with chocolates, took her to a house in Nadikula Sahi and raped her. After committing the crime, the accused threatened the victim not to disclose the matter to anyone, said IIC, GRP, Cuttack Jyoti Prakash Nayak.

“We have conducted Bhegu’s lie detector test. Based on scientific and material evidence, the accused has been arrested and produced in court. Efforts are on to file the chargesheet in this case as soon as possible,” Nayak said.

The victim and her 11-year-old elder brother were undergoing rehabilitation at the CCI near College Square after their father was sent to jail in connection with a case in 2021. On January 29, the victim, a fourth-grade student, had gone to school along with 15 other inmates of the CCI. After classes, she got separated from the group following an argument with her brother and was alone on her way back to the CCI when the accused picked her up on his bike. After committing the crime, he dropped her on the road. She reached the CCI in a critical condition and was subsequently shifted to the SCB MCH.

Based on an FIR filed by the CCI administrator, GRP, Cuttack had registered a case.