Keonjhar: Tension flared up in Murgagoth village under Anandapur police limits in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Monday after a four-month-old rape incident involving a differently-abled minor girl came to light, triggering vandalism and arson at a religious site belonging to a minority community.
According to sources, the accused youth, who belongs to the same village, has been absconding since the incident surfaced. The alleged assault had taken place around four months ago when the minor had gone to bathe in a nearby stream. Out of fear, the victim did not disclose the incident to her family at the time.
The matter came to light on Sunday after the girl fell ill and was taken for a medical examination, which revealed that she was pregnant.
Following the revelation, angry villagers assembled on Monday and allegedly carried out large-scale vandalism and arson at a religious site associated with the minority community, escalating tensions in the area.
Senior police officials, including the district Superintendent of Police and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Anandapur, rushed to the spot along with police personnel to bring the situation under control. Security has been tightened in the village to prevent further escalation.
Police said efforts are underway to apprehend the accused, while a peace committee has been formed to restore normalcy and maintain communal harmony in the area.
An investigation into both the alleged rape and the subsequent violence is currently in progress.
