Tension prevailed when irate villagers of Tangiasahi village burnt tyres and staged a road blockade by placing the body of a minor girl who reportedly died after being raped by her sister’s brother-in-law in R Udaygiri of Gajapati district on Tuesday. Demanding compensation for the bereaved family and immediate arrest of the accused, the protestors blocked the road for over two hours. After getting information, police reached the spot and pacified the agitators assuring them of needful action.
While the body was sent to the Parlakhemundi hospital for autopsy, the accused was held from Lubursing village and brought for interrogation.
The minor, who belonged to Tangiasahi of Randiba panchayat, had gone to visit her sister at Lubursing 18 days back. She was allegedly raped by her sister’s brother-in-law. After coming back, she suffered from internal bleeding. As her condition got worse, her parents admitted her in the Chandragiri hospital, from where she was referred to the MKCG in Brahmapur. However, she succumbed during treatment on Monday.
As per her parent’s claim, just before she dies, she named the accused and revealed that she was raped by him. “My daughter had gone to our elder daughter’s in-laws’ place. They insisted on her staying back. When we went to fetch her, we found that she had been beaten up. On returning home, she had fever. We took her to the hospital in Chandragiri, where doctors said she was having internal bleeding. She was shifted to the Brahmapur hospital. There, my daughter disclosed that she was raped and shared that she had hidden the fact out of fear that my elder daughter would be tortured by her in-laws. She narrated her ordeal just before passing away,” said Laxmi Dalei, the mother of the deceased.
As the news spread, local residents took to the streets demanding justice for the girl and her family. Meanwhile, police have brought the accused for questioning. A case has been registered and investigation is underway.