Bhubaneswar, June 6: The body of a 12-year-old visually challenged girl was today found in a forest near Baladala village of Puri district. Police suspect she was raped and murdered.

The police said the victim, a Class V student of a Bhubaneswar-based blind school, was visiting her village during summer vacations. “The body was found in a cashew forest on the Puri-Konark marine drive around 11.30am. Prima facie evidence indicates that she was raped,” said a police officer.

The father of the victim said his daughter was missing since last night. “She went out around 1am to attend nature’s call, but did not return home. This morning, her body was found 1km from our village,” he said.

A scientific team, along with sniffer dogs, were rushed to the spot to trace the criminals. Police have recovered empty beer bottles from the spot. Following the incident, local residents blocked the marine drive demanding compensation for the family members of the deceased and immediate arrest of the criminals involved in the incident. The mob blocked the road by burning tyres and dumping tree branches. They also ransacked a hotel in the area.

The mob did not allow the police to take away the body for post-mortem. The blockade had not been lifted till evening though the police and officials of district administration who rushed to the spot tried to reason with the agitators.

“The possibility of rape cannot be ruled out. We are trying to pacify the mob. After that, the body will be taken for post-mortem. We have already started an investigation,” said superintendent of police, Puri, A.K. Sahu.

Following the blockade, many vehicles were seen stranded on the road. The agitators alleged that inaction of police had led to increase in such incidents in the area. “Criminal activity is on the rise here because of police inaction. The culprits should be arrested as soon as possible,” said an agitator.