Jajpur, March 22: In a shocking incident, a tantrik was arrested and produced to court today on charges of raping a minor girl in Jajpur district continuously over a period of three years.

The victim, aged about 17, hails from Haladigadia village under Korei police limits. The girl had even been forced by the tantrik, Bhaju Jena alias Manibaba, to undergo abortion in the past, according to the complaint filed with the local police.

“We have arrested Manibaba under Sections 376 (rape) and 312 (causing miscarriage) of the Indian Penal Code. Medical test of both the accused and the victim has been done. The accused was produced in court today and he has confessed to his crime,” said D.S. Kuttey, superintendent of police, Jajpur.

The self-styled ‘baba’ had taken advantage of the teenaged girl after befriending her mother who had apparently approached him for solutions to her domestic problems three years ago.

After earning the respect of her family, he began making regular visits to their house. Over a period of time, he developed ties with the girl and raped her on several occasions.

After receiving a phone call from the accused about his plans to visit her house on Sunday night, the girl, for the first time, confided in her family members about the tantrik’s acts.

Alerted, her worried parents informed the villagers about the tantrik’s acts. On reaching the spot, the villagers found him trying to hide himself, covered in a saree.