Kolkata-like incident in Balasore, minor raped and murdered, 7 women become victims every day in the state

A horrific incident of rape and murder of a 9-year-old tribal girl has come to light in Balasore, Odisha. Police have arrested a 46-year-old man in this case. A case has been registered against the accused under sections 103, 165, 4(2) of the BNS and relevant sections of the POCSO Act. The accused has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the local court.

According to Remuna police in-charge Hasina Kulu, the victim girl went missing from her house on 27 August. On 30 August, her decomposed body was found in an empty house. After this, the police registered a case and started investigating the matter. During this, it was found that Rabi Singh, a friend of the victim’s father, had committed this crime. After this, the police arrested him.

The accused slept at the victim’s house on the day of the incident

A police officer said that on the day of the incident, the accused slept at the victim’s house. The next morning, the accused took the girl for breakfast. From there, he took her to an empty house. It was here that he committed the crime. After this, he used a concrete slab to crush her head. This incident had shocked the entire state.

BJD president and leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik raised the issue in the assembly. He has sharply criticized the current government’s way of dealing with crimes. He said, “All major crimes including this case should be reported to the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister. This is a serious matter. Such a case never happened during my government’s tenure.”

Seven women are raped every day in Odisha

According to a white paper presented in the Odisha Assembly, at least seven rape and three murder cases were registered every day in the state during the year 2023. The paper circulated among the members of the Assembly by the Home Department said that 2,826 rape cases and 1,362 murder cases were reported in the eastern state in the year 2023.

The white paper also states that the Crimes Against Women and Children Branch (CAW and CW) is working in Bhubaneswar. Apart from this, the state government has set up women and children desks at 619 police stations. In the year 2023, Odisha Police registered 1,868 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.