Keonjhar: Fresh cases of sexual abuse of children have come under spotlight with police taking into custody two offenders in as many cases of rape and rape attempt on minor girls in Keonjhar and Kendrapara districts.

A 35-year-old man was arrested on Friday from Patana police station limits on the charge of raping a seven-year-old girl on April 21. The accused has been identified as Mahendra Kumrar Jerai.

"A section of villagers had also tried to cover-up the crime and by offering money to the girl's parents," said sub-divisional police officer Sriharsha Mishra.

Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police launched a probe into the alleged rape case and found veracity in the allegation. During interrogation, the victim's parents confessed to have suppressed the matter, he said.

"Jerai had close acquaintance with the girl's family. He raped the child when there was no one else at home and also threatened her not to the divulge the matter to anyone. However, she confided to her parents the wrong done on her by the accused. The accused then tried to hush up the case with the assistance of some village elders," said another police officer.

Both the accused and the victim were then medically examined. The accused was remanded in judicial custody after being charged under sections 376, 557, 342 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

In another case, a 40-year-old man was arrested on Friday for attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl at a village in Jamboo marine police station limits. The accused, Nityanand Mistry, had attempted to rape the teen in the village orchard on Thursday when she had gone there to pluck mangoes. However, she raised an alarm as the accused attempted to rape her.

Hearing the girl's screams, local people rushed in and caught him. He was later handed over to police, said inspector of Jamboo Marine police station Priyabrata Dash.

Mistry has been booked under sections 354, 341, 342 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. He was remanded in judicial custody.

Minor rescued

Police and district child welfare officer Manorama Sahoo rescued a 10-year-old girl from Mangarajpur village in Kujang police station area in Jagatsinghpur district late on Thursday night.

She was allegedly married off to a 23-year-old disabled man on Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, local sub-divisional police officer tipped off the district child development project officer who again informed district child welfare officer Sahoo. She went with a police team and rescued the girl.

Rural project

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday sanctioned Rs 1.40 crore for 30 rural projects in four gram panchayats in four districts under "Ama Gaon Ama Vikash". The four panchayat areas are Baro in Kendrapara, Sanatribida in Angul, Kudaloi in Jharsuguda and Gudari in Kandhamal