Paradip, Nov. 27: A 47-year-old daily wage earner, who was accused of raping a four-year-old girl, allegedly committed suicide today by consuming toxic substances in Paradip Port Township.

The body of Duryadhan Swain, a worker at a private construction farm, was recovered from near zero point junction on the outskirts of the port town. Police said it was a case of suicide.

A case under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) besides Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012, had been registered against the accused yesterday following a complaint by the victim's father.

Either the fear of arrest or repentance might have prompted him to commit suicide, said inspector of Paradip police station Bichitranand Samal.

The child was raped on November 21 at Loknath colony when she was playing alone in the backyard of their house. The accused allegedly offered chocolates to lure her before committing the crime, Samal said quoting the FIR.

The child suffered severe trauma following the assault. The parents had come to know of the sexual abuse only after they had brought her to a hospital for treatment, the police said.

The accused stayed near the victim's house, while his family lived at Kakatpur village in Puri district.

A few labourers engaged in the refinery project found Swain lying near a petrol pump at zero point junction. They rushed him to the government-run Biju Patnaik Memorial Hospital, where he died.<> The police did not find any suicide note.