Cops net accused after House uproar

BALASORE: Hours after the Nilagiri minor girl rape incident rocked the State Assembly, police arrested a 24-year-old youth for the alleged crime on Monday.While Opposition MLAs had targeted the ruling BJD in the Assembly over the alleged connection of one of its MLA with the accused, police said a probe was underway to ascertain if there were any link between the two.Three police teams raided several places in Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts and arrested the accused, identified as Nitya Chandan Jena, from Bonth square in Bhadrak.

Balasore SP Jugal Kishore Banoth said police took prompt action and arrested the accused within 24 hours of the registration of the complaint.A native of Hatasahi within Nilagiri police limits, Jena had allegedly raped the four-year-old girl of the same village on April 14. Reportedly, he lured her to his house on the pretext of providing chocolates and sexually assaulted the girl.The incident came to light after the girl complained of pain in her private parts and revealed the incident to her mother. As the news spread in the locality, Jena went into hiding.     

The police have recorded the statement of the victim under Section 164 of the CrPC before the magistrate. Both the victim and accused have been medically examined.Claiming that the accused is a distant relative of local BJD MLA, while Remuna BJP legislator Gobinda Das alleged that police were pressurised not to take any action in the case. However, the SP refuted the allegations and said investigation is on to ascertain the link between accused Jena and the local MLA, if any.       

Meanwhile, members of Child Welfare Committee led by Muktikanta Panda met the victim and took her to hospital for medical examination. Later, she was counselled by women members.
When queried about the rape attempt on a minor girl in Soro, the SP informed that the accused, who sustained injury on his leg, is being treated at the District Headquarters Hospital under the watch of police. The 52-year-old accused, identified as Shyam Sundar Khuntia, will be arrested once he is discharged from the hospital, he added.