Jajpur: Police have arrested a teacher of a government-run high school under Binjharpur block in the district on charges of raping a Class VIII girl student of the institute.

The accused has been identified as Smruti Ranjan Jena, a science teacher. The 13-year-old girl was seriously injured following the rape and had to be rushed to Shishu Bhavan in Cuttack. Though the incident took place on August 3, it came to the fore after the treating doctor revealed the sexual assault on the girl, following which a complaint was lodged with Lalbagh police in Cuttack.

The police said the girl reached the school on August 3 morning for private tuition from Jena.

"Finding her alone, Jena raped her. He also threatened her not to disclose the matter to anyone," said Binjharpur police station inspector-in-charge Suchitrabrijya Das.

Fearing public shame, the girl did not disclose the matter to anyone. On August 4, she developed some critical health complications in her private parts. Still she chose not to disclose anything even to her parents. Later, she had to be hospitalised.

"The doctor at the Shishu Bhavan revealed her parents that she had been raped. Then they asked her about the incident and she narrated her ordeal," said a police officer.

The Lalbagh police reported the matter to the Jajpur police superintendent, who asked Binjharpur police to register a rape case against Jena. The cops then recorded the girl's statement, and the police nabbed Jena on Monday.

The police produced the accused to local court on Tuesday after conducting medical examination. He was remanded in judicial custody after his bail was rejected.