Baripada: Police in Malkangiri have submitted the charge sheet in the rape and murder of a tribal girl within 17 days of the incident.

This is the first time in the district that a charge sheet was filed within 17 days in a rape and murder case, Mayurbhanj superintendent of police Awinash Kumar said. Police pursued the case swiftly for a speedy trial, he said.

The charge sheet was filed in the court of Additional District Judge-cum-Special Judge (child protection officer) on Tuesday. A nine-year-old tribal girl of Garudabasa village in Betnoti police limits was allegedly kidnapped by Jaminikanta Mohanto, 24, of the same village on June 15.

Her body was recovered from a forest near the village the next day, Kumar said. Post-mortem revealed that the girl was strangulated after rape, he said.

Kumar said the accused had a criminal record and was also arrested in another rape case on August 2015 from Betnoti. He was released on bail some days prior to the June 15 incident.