Odisha: 5-year-old girl, elderly tribal woman raped
A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a minor boy in Sambalpur district, while in Mayurbhanj two men were arrested on the charge of raping a 50-year-old tribal woman, the police said on Tuesday. The minor boy has been apprehended on the basis of a complaint lodged by the girl's family, and an investigation has been initiated, a police officer said.
Another headmaster arrested for sexually assaulting minor girls
While the minor girl was allegedly raped on Monday, the elderly woman was reportedly raped on Sunday, the police said. In another incident, the headmaster of a government upper primary school in Puri district was arrested yesterday on charge of sexually assaulting three minor girls on the pretext of "leg massage", the police said. He was arrested after the girls informed their family members.
Headmaster also accused of vulgar words and obscene gestures
The girls, two of whom are Class 5 students and one a Class 4 student, narrated the entire episode and accused the teacher of using vulgar words and making obscene gestures, the police said, adding the headmaster has, however, has denied the allegations. Meanwhile, the state government today assured the Assembly that stringent actions are being taken against the culprits in such cases.
Stringent actions to be taken against the culprits
As per the direction of Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Arukha yesterday made the statement in the Assembly on the rape cases in the state and actions against it. He spoke on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Providing security to women, children is state's priority
"Providing security to women, children and other vulnerable groups is the state's priority. It is a matter of concern for the state that minor girls are being raped. The police have been asked to take stringent action against the culprits," Arukha said. The minister said after two minor girls were raped in Cuttack district on April 21, police arrested the accused within 12 hours.
Police directed to undertake quick investigation
The accused persons in Balasore and Kendrapara districts have also been arrested, the minister said, adding a person accused of being involved in the rape of a minor girl at Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district has also been held. The police have been directed to undertake a quick investigation and incidents of rape of minors are being treated as "Red Flag" cases, Arukha said.
