Bhubaneswar: Daringbadi police on Tuesday arrested a 27-year-old married man for allegedly abducting and raping a 14-year-old Class IX student in the Daringbadi area of Kandhamal district.
The accused, identified as Prasant Pradhan, was arrested in Burjubadi village following a police raid. Police also seized the car used in the crime.
The incident occurred on September 5 when the minor was returning home after attending a Ganesh Visarjan ceremony at her elder sister’s house in Daringbadi.
According to police, Pradhan allegedly forced the girl into his car, raped her, and threatened her with death if she disclosed the ordeal. The following day, the traumatized girl confided in her parents, who promptly lodged a complaint with the Daringbadi police.
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and initiated an investigation.
“Based on a tip-off regarding the accused’s location, we conducted a raid, leading to Pradhan’s arrest in Burjubadi village,” said Jayant Sethy, Inspector-in-Charge of Daringbadi police station.