Chhatrapur: A man who had earlier spent nearly four years in jail in a rape case has been arrested for allegedly abducting a five-year-old differently-abled girl from the premises of a government hospital in Ganjam district, police said on Monday.
The accused, identified as Dhruba Goud of Rajpur village, allegedly lured the minor with biscuits and Frooti before taking her away from the Chhatrapur Sub-Divisional Hospital on Sunday, police said.
According to Chhatrapur police station IIC Sabyasachi Malla, the girl had visited the hospital with her grandmother when Goud approached her and allegedly offered her the eatables. After establishing rapport with the child, he took her away from the hospital premises.
The grandmother later searched for the girl but could not find her, following which the matter was reported to police.
Police examined CCTV footage from the hospital premises and found a person taking the minor away. Four teams were subsequently formed to trace the girl, while her photograph was circulated at different places and on social media to facilitate her rescue.
Meanwhile, villagers of Danei Brahmapur, located around 10 km from the hospital, spotted the girl after seeing her photograph circulated on social media. They apprehended the accused and informed the police.
A police team immediately reached the village, rescued the girl and arrested Goud.
Police said Goud had earlier spent nearly four years in jail in connection with a rape case registered in 2011.
A case, numbered 412, has been registered at Chhatrapur police station in connection with the incident. The accused was produced before a court, police said.
