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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on September 24, 2023
Peon arrested for raping 8-year-old at Odisha school
The accused peon has been suspended, and the school headmaster has been issued a show cause, said an official.
According to the police officer, the accused allegedly lured the girl to an empty room in the school when she was on her way to the school after lunch at home on Friday, and raped her.
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Peon arrested for raping 8-year-old at Odisha school
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An eight-year-old Dalit girl, student of Class 3, on Friday was allegedly raped by a peon of her school in Odisha’s Rayagada district, said police. On Saturday, a senior police officer said that “angry” locals set a police vehicle on fire and also vandalised their jeep when the accused was being taken to the police station.
Following this, police wielded their batons to disperse the mob and detained several persons for allegedly inciting violence, said the officer.
“We have arrested the accused, and further investigation is underway… Strict action will also be taken against people who vandalised the police vehicles,” said Vivekanand Sharma, superintendent of police, Rayagada. The victim was admitted to a nearby hospital following the incident, and is stable now, said the police officer.
According to the police officer, the accused allegedly lured the girl to an empty room in the school when she was on her way to the school after lunch at home on Friday, and raped her. The girl’s friends informed the school headmaster and her mother after they spotted her bleeding profusely and crying in pain.
As soon as the news of the incident spread, locals assembled in front of the police outpost at Dongasil and demanded that the school authority handover the accused to them. As police did not comply with their repeated demand, the angry mob torched the police van and vandalised a jeep. The official said, five police platoons (one platoon comprises 30 personnel) — under the leadership of the additional superintendent of police of Rayagada — are camping near the school as the situation continues to be tense. Fearing arrests, almost all the male residents have fled the village.
The accused peon has been suspended, and the school headmaster has been issued a show cause, said an official.
Bidulata Huika, chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Rayagada, has expressed concerns over the incident; and along with a team of CWC members met the victim and her mother at the Rayagada government hospital. The team has assured them of justice.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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