Koraput: In a heart-wrenching incident that has shaken locals in Bandhugaon in Koraput district, a six-year-old girl was brutally raped, leaving her critically injured and fighting for recovery. The accused, Benka Pidi (30), a resident of the same village, has been arrested after confessing to the crime during police interrogation.
According to reports, the nightmare unfolded on July 7 in Kanagaon panchayat, when the girl’s parents left her alone in their hut while they worked in the fields. Taking advantage of the rain and her solitude, Pidi lured the child to another hut with the false promise of chocolates before assaulting her.
When her mother returned, she found the girl feverish and in severe pain. Upon questioning, the traumatised child revealed the horrifying truth. The family rushed her to a local hospital, where doctors confirmed sexual assault, noting severe injuries and bleeding. Doctors immediately urged the family to file a police complaint.
By July 8, word of the crime spread, igniting fury among villagers. The accused and his father were confronted and beaten by enraged locals before police intervention. However, the victim’s family—being poor with limited resources—faced pressure from the accused’s relatives to settle the matter privately to avoid “shame.”
Bandhugaon police took swift action, registered an official complaint on behalf of the parents and arrested Pidi.
Meanwhile, the victim has been referred to the Koraput District Headquarters Hospital for advanced treatment as she battles physical and psychological trauma.
