BARIPADA: AN eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a 32-year-old man in Garudabasa village under Betnoti police limits of Mayurbhanj district. The accused, identified as Jaminikanta Mohanta, was arrested on Saturday.
Police said the minor girl was playing with her friends at a playground near her house. The accused took her to a nearby forest area on his bicycle around 12 noon. When the girl didn’t return home, her parents started searching for her in the neighbourhood. They apparently learnt that the accused had taken the girl to the forest. When the villagers asked the accused about the girl, he allegedly remained tight-lipped. Later, the villagers informed the police.
The girl’s body was found on Saturday morning in the forest after her parents and villagers searched for her. On receiving information, police rushed to the spot, recovered her body and sent it for post mortem. According to reports, the accused confessed to his crime to the police. He had buried her body in the forest to destroy the evidence, police said.
A case was registered under Section 366, 32(V) of SC and ST Act and 302 of IPC against the accused. He would be produced in Baripada SDJM court on Sunday.Sources said Jaminikanta was out on bail after being accused in another rape case recently. He had moved to Bangalore in search of job. He had returned to his village a couple of days back.