Sambalpur, Sept. 3: Tension gripped Balibandha and Tamlapara over the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Sambalpur today. The body of the girl was found lying on the Ring Road at Mandlia early this morning. Police have arrested 37-year-old Pradeep Dalei in this regard.
Angered over the incident, irate residents of the area blocked the Kunjelpara-Samaleswari temple road and Ring Road at Balibandha for more than two hours, demanding stringent action against the accused. The protesters placed logs on the road and stopped movement of vehicles. After an assurance from the police, the agitators withdrew the road blockade.
A source said: “The girl was playing near her house on Sunday evening. The accused, Pradeep Dalei, who was well known to the family of the deceased, called the girl and told her to come with him to a fast food kiosk. The girl went with Pradeep. The mother and two other women of that area had seen the girl going with Pradeep. However, the girl did not return.”
“As the child did not return home, the family members started searching for the girl. They even went to Pradeep’s house to enquire about her. But the accused feigned ignorance. Then the family members lodged a missing complaint with the town police station of the city. The body was recovered today,” a local resident said.
The victim’s mother said: “I had seen my daughter going with him. I had also told her not to go with him, but she did not listen.”
“I was under the impression that the accused was her relative. I had seen him taking the girl on his bicycle,” said Kaikayi Hati, a local resident.
“The accused must be given exemplary punishment so that no one dares to do such things,” said Chittaranjan, another local resident who had joined the protest.
Superintendent of police Nikhi Kanodia said: “Pradeep Dalei of Barang has been arrested. He has already confessed to the crime. He took us to the spot where the body of the girl was lying. The girl seemed to have been strangulated to death. The body has been sent for post-mortem and the accused has been sent for medical examination.”
