Mason held for raping, impregnating minor

Kendrapada: A 26-year-old mason from Jajpur district was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping and impregnating a 17-year-old girl, who worked as a daily labourer with him.The survivor’s mother lodged an FIR on Wednesday, alleging that the accused had been sexually exploiting her daughter for the past five months, resulting in the pregnancy. “Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested the accused under BNS section 70(2) (rape of a woman below 18 years of age) and Pocso Act,” said Ashis Kumar Sahoo, the investigation officer (IO).Police said the two had concealed their relationship. When the girl informed the accused about her pregnancy, he allegedly threatened her not to reveal his identity as the father. It was only after her mother noticed physical changes that she suspected the pregnancy, prompting her to file the complaint.The survivor was examined at the Jajpur district headquarters hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was four months pregnant. “The accused was produced in a Jajpur court on Thursday, which rejected his bail plea and remanded him to judicial custody,” the IO said.The minor was also produced before the court, which recorded her statement under BNS section 183, a provision relating to the recording of statements and confessions in cases involving offences against women and children. She has been shifted to a govt-run short-stay home in Jajpur, police added.