A beggar-cum-palmist was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to rape a girl at Samagudia village under the Kendrapada town police station.
The beggar, Biswajit Nayak (31), of Mangalapur under the Mahakalpada PS was produced before the SDJM Court of Kendrapada on Wednesday, from where he was remanded to jail custody.
IIC of Kendrapada Town police station Ranjan kumar Dey said Biswanath while begging also used practised palmistry to foretell the fates of villagers. Some days back, at Samagudia, he promised a villager to solve all problems of his family if he organised Puja Path. On Tuesday, Biswanath came to the villager’s house and asked him to bring Puja items from the local market and also asked his wife to bring ghee diya from the market.
When the couple went out, Biswanath finding their 16-year-old daughter alone began gossiping with her and then allegedly attempted to rape her. As the girl cried for help, neighbours rushed and assaulted Biswanath.
Acting on an FIR, the police reached the spot and arrested the Biswanath after rescuing him from the wrath of the locals.