Phulbani: A 22-year-old man allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl after drugging her at a Jubaguda village orchard of Kandhamal district on Monday. Villagers found the girl in an unconscious state. She was later taken to the Kotagada community health centre.

Police said the accused had drugged her before raping her while she was semi-conscious, said Kotagada police station inspector Prafulla Behera.

Medical examination of the victim has established that she had been drugged and raped. The girl's health condition is stable and she is out of danger, he said.

The incident occurred when the girl had gone to the orchard to collect mangoes. The accused found her alone there and perpetrated the crime, police said, adding that the accused fled afterwards.

The police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 557 (assault or criminal force in attempt wrongfully to confine a person), 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and sections 4 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.

The police are searching for the accused.