Odisha: Girl's body found hanging from tree; family alleges rape, murder

Keonjhar, Jun 18 (PTI) The body of a 17-year-old girl, who went missing after going out of her house to relieve herself, was found hanging from a tree in Odisha's Keonjhar district, following which her family alleged she was gangraped and killed.

Police said they have registered a case of gangrape and murder, and detained two persons in connection with the incident that led to tension in Harichandanpur.

The incident comes close on the heels of the gangrape of a 20-year-old woman at the Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, which triggered a nationwide outrage.

The minor went missing on Monday night after going out of her house to relieve herself. Her mobile phone was also switched off, police said.

Her bloodstained body was found hanging from a tree near the village the next morning, they said.

Bloodstained male clothes and a few other items were also recovered from the spot, leading her family to suspect that she might have been raped and murdered.

The girl's father filed a police complaint, alleging that she was gangraped, killed and subsequently hanged to make it appear as a suicide.

Following day-long protests by villagers, mostly women, police registered a case under BNS sections 70(2) (gangrape) and 103(1) (murder), and the POCSO Act.

Two persons have been detained in connection with the case, said Laxmikant Pradhan, the inspector-in-charge of Pandapada police station.

"We are investigating the incident from all angles. The autopsy will reveal whether it was a case of gang rape," Pradhan said.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and BJD condemned the incident and attacked Chief Minister Mohan Charan Maji, as he hails from Keonjhar district, too.

“The CM is in charge of the home department and a minor girl is raped in his native district. This is condemnable,” said Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu, the party in-charge of Odisha.

A delegation of the BJD led by former minister and MLA Badrinarayan Patra met the family members of the girl, and also submitted a memorandum to the Keonjhar SP, demanding immediate arrest and stringent action against the culprits.

The family initially refused to receive the body and, along with the villagers, blocked the Naduroada-Kaliahaat Road. After police detained two persons, they relented and withdrew the blockade. PTI CORR AAM SOM AAM RBT