Minor girl raped, murdered in Odisha

DHENKANAL: Yet another minor girl was brutally raped and murdered in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district sparking a public outcry over the growing crime against women in the state.

Police sources said a minor girl was raped and murdered in Maluaguda village under Bhuban police limits in Dhenkanal district.

The accused identified as Sibananda Pradhan from the same village has been arrested on Tuesday.

Reports said that the deceased, a class III student, did not return home on Sunday night, and the family members started searching her but failed.

On Monday morning, they found the dead body of the girl with injuries. However, in a bid to avoid embarrassment in the village, her body was buried by her family members.

“She went to see a movie to our neighbour’s house on January 24 night but did not return. I searched for her throughout the night. But, I did not find out her. On Monday morning, I found my daughter but only her dead body sustaining several injuries,” said the mother of the deceased.

She said she was raped and murdered.

Police on Tuesday seized her mutilated body and arrested Sibanand after a thorough investigation.

Police said the accused confessed the crime.

He first raped her, stabbed and strangled to death to avoid arrest. After committing the crime, he dumped her body near her house, said police.

Notably, few days before, a nine-year-old girl was brutally raped by a notorious criminal in Jatani area of Khurdha district.