Bhubaneswar, Jan. 21: A nine-year-old girl has been admitted to Capital Hospital after allegedly being raped at Jatni on the outskirts of the city last night.

The accused, Ahiraj Nayak 24, a history-sheeter and the girl's neighbour, abducted her from her house and raped her. Police have arrested Nayak.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said the accused had fled after committing the crime. "We conducted raids at several places and nabbed him. The victim had to undergo surgery as she had suffered grievous injuries in her private parts. However, her condition is stable now," said Bhoi.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that the state government would bear the victim's medical expenses after the Congress's youth wing staged a demonstration demanding compensation for the victim, whose father is a daily labourer.

The victim's father said that the accused had forcibly taken her daughter from their house. "We were asleep and did not have any idea how he managed to enter the house. We came to know about the incident after our daughter woke us up and narrated her ordeals," he said.

The girl told her parents that Nayak had gagged her and taken her to a deserted place where he raped her. After a few hours, Nayak reportedly raped her again at another place.

He threatened her with dire consequences if she told her parents about the incident. However, her parents immediately lodged a complaint with Jatni police station.

The victim was first admitted to a nearby community health centre, from where she was referred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

The police said that Nayak, who was unemployed, had been arrested earlier in connection with two robbery cases.

"He had been released from jail last week," said a police officer.