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| Children cover themselves with an umbrella during heavy rain in Hyderabad on Saturday. (PTI) |
Bhubaneswar, June 8: Puri police today arrested the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old visually challenged girl.
The minor’s body was recovered on Thursday from a forest near Beladala village, nearly 10km from Puri town.
Puri superintendent of police Anup Kumar Sahu said: “The prime accused, Banamali Barik, has been arrested. He has confessed to the crime. The medical examination report indicated that the girl had died owing to deep injuries caused on her private parts.”
Barik is a taxi driver, who had earlier been sent to jail in a dacoity case. After spending nearly 14 months in jail, he was released a few months ago. Barik used to visit Beladala village while taking tourists to Puri-Konark Marine Drive. Later, he developed a relationship with the family. The victim used to address her as “brother”.
On last Wednesday, Barik had been to Beladala village. He had lured the victim to come outside her home and later attempted to rape her. When the girl had resisted, the accused forcibly took her away to the nearby forest and strangulated her. “The accused had pushed an iron rod in her private part. As a result, the girl had lost consciousness and later died,” said Sahu.
Sahu said the police today received a report of the rape of a five-year-old girl at Balanga village in the district. The accused was a 19-year-old youth.
State Commission for Women chairperson Lopamudra Buxipatra today visited the spot where the visually challenged girl had been raped and murdered. Earlier, Lopamudra had sought an inquiry report from Puri police in connection with the incident.
Activists of the BJP, Congress, Aam Admi and the Samata Kranti Dal today staged a protest rally and demanded that the case be tried by the fast track court for expeditious hearing.
“Exemplary punishment should be meted out to the accused,” said BJP activist Simantini Jena.