Balasore: Khantapada police arrested a 30-year-old man on charge of raping a 12-year-old girl at Madanapur village in Bahanaga block of the district.

The accused has been identified as Bhagwan Chandra Mallik of the same village.

The crime was committed on Saturday evening when the girl was returning home after collecting PDS items from the local ration distribution centre. After returning home, she narrated her plights to her parents. They then lodged a police complaint against Mallik.

On receiving the complaint, the police began an investigation and found the accused of having committed the crime under the influence of alcohol. Khantapada police station investigating officer Banamali Parida said: "The accused has been produced in court after being booked on charge of rape and under Section 6 of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act."

In another development, Khunta police arrested a 20-year-old youth on charge of rape attempt on a 32-year-old women. The accused has been identified as Tapan Kumar Nayak, a resident of Godigaon village.

According to the complainant, Nayak took the woman to a secluded place and tried to rape her while she was on her way home after getting off from a bus. On hearing the woman's scream local people rushed to the spot and overpowered Nayak. The mob then handed Nayak over to the police after thrashing him.

Udla sub-divisional police officer S.R. Mahapatra said: "The accused has been arrested and is being interrogated. He would be produced in court after interrogation and medical examination."

Phone snatcher

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on the charge of snatching a mobile phone. Dipesh Jena of Gopalgaon village in Balasore was caught by local people while trying to snatch a mobile phone from a motorcyclist in the town on Tuesday.