Rape and illegal abortion of minor: Accused on the run for six years arrested

Rourkela: Weeks after a stepfather was nabbed by the crime branch in connection with the rape and illegal abortion of a minor girl in Sundargarh district, another accused, on the run for nearly six years, was arrested on Thursday, inspector in charge R P Nag said on Friday.A three-member crime branch team, with the assistance of local police, traced him. He was produced before a Pocso court, which remanded him to judicial custody.The girl’s stepfather — a key accused in the case — was nabbed by the crime branch in Feb, also after six years in hiding. He was also produced before the Pocso court and sent to judicial custody.Earlier, a police officer, doctor and home guard had been arrested.The case came to light in June 2020 after the district child protection officer lodged an FIR alleging sexual assault and illegal termination of pregnancy of the minor. The FIR named multiple accused, including police personnel, a medical professional, two youths known to the girl and her stepfather.According to the complaint and the minor’s statement, she was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault. After she became pregnant, arrangements were allegedly made for termination of the pregnancy in June 2020.A crime branch probe was then ordered later that month. Subsequently, the then inspector in charge of the police station concerned was dismissed from service and arrested. A medical officer, accused of carrying out the abortion, and a home guard driver, accused of facilitating the crime, were also taken into custody.Police said investigations are on.