Tuesday, May 15, 2012

May 15, 2012: 15-year-old raped and burnt in Puri district

TNN | May 15, 2012, 02.39AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: A 20-year-old man was arrested on Monday for allegedly raping and then setting the 15-year-old victim on fire at Sahanikera, about 15 km from Puri. The victim, Gayatri Swain, had succumbed to burn injuries at Puri district headquarters hospital on Sunday. 

The ghastly incident occurred barely 30 km from Pipili, which had hogged headlines following the alleged rape and murder bid on a dalit girl recently. 

The girl's family alleged that the accused, Rasmiranjan Jena alias Milu, had outraged her modesty in a rice mill and then set her on fire on Thursday night. The girl's mother, Ranjana Swain, filed a complaint at Sadar police station the next day. "Milu resides close to our house. He called my daughter outside. I did not suspect anything as he is our neighbour. After some time, I got the news that my daughter was severely burnt," Ranjana said. 

Gayatri was first rushed to a nearby hospital and then shifted to Puri district headquarters hospital on Friday. 

Police, however, suspect that the murder was a fallout of a tiff between lovers. "The accused and the victim loved each other. Perhaps there was an altercation between them. Later, the girl's family alleged that she was raped and set on fire. We are verifying the allegations," said SP (Puri) Anup Kumar Sahu said. "We have arrested Milu and would interrogate him to elicit information," Sahu added. 

"On Saturday, the girl told us that she was raped and burnt. We then registered a rape and murder case against Milu," the Puri SP said. 

Puri chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dr Gyanendra Kumar Sahoo said it would be difficult to establish whether or not she was raped as she was burnt severely. 

Asked why she was not referred to a better hospital in view of her serious condition, Dr Sahoo said: "Her family refused to take her to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack despite the offer of free transport and treatment. We tried our best to treat her at Puri hospital." 

Earlier in the day, IGP (central range) Arun Ray visited Sahanikera village and interacted with the bereaved family and villagers.
Link: 15-year-old raped and burnt in Puri district

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