BHAWANIPATNA: In a shocking incident, a pastor in Kalahandi district has been accused of raping an eight-month pregnant woman on the pretext of curing her illness through prayer.
The 20-year-old woman lodged a complaint with Bhawanipatna Sadar police alleging that she was raped by pastor Jinesh Kumar of Themra village under Pastikudi gram panchayat.
According to police sources, on August 7, Jinesh invited the woman and her husband to his residence, promising to cure her ailments through prayer. He allegedly made her husband consume spiked alcohol and took the woman into a room on the pretext of offering a special prayer and forcibly raped her.
The accused allegedly threatened to kill the couple if they disclosed the incident. Terrified, they fled the place.
The victim’s family lodged a written complaint at Bhawanipatna Sadar police station on August 8. Based on the complaint, police called the woman for a medical examination on Tuesday and formally registered a case.
SDPO Naresh Pradhan said the accused pastor is absconding and police are trying to trace him. Further investigation is underway.