Dhenkanal, Feb. 2: Two days after a 16-year-old girl committed suicide after allegedly being raped by her neighbour in Dhenkanal Town here, police last night arrested the accused, Ranjan Sahu, from a village at Kankadahad in the district.

"Last night, a team led of Dhenkanal Town police raided some places at Kankadahad and caught him," said additional police superintendent Anil Dash.

Sahu, 35, has been slapped with charges of rape and abetment to suicide.

The victim, a resident of Bhagwanpur in Dhenkanal, was allegedly raped by Sahu when she had gone out for some work at night. Later in the night, her parents rescued her from Sahu's house and the two families reportedly came to a mutual settlement over the issue. But the next morning, she set herself on fire and died on the spot.

Both Congress and BJP have hit the streets demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim's family.

Yesterday, Congress workers staged a road blockade demanding immediate arrest of the accused. Congress leaders Prasad Harichandan and Sasmita Behera had also visited the victim's bereaved family members. Today, BJP workers also staged a blockade demanding compensation for the victim's family members.