Keonjhar: Police in Keonjhar on Wednesday detained an 18-year-old in connection with the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl and initiated proceedings under relevant provisions of law, including the Pocso Act.Police said the girl had travelled with a group of villagers to a place in Jajpur district in Jan this year for paddy harvesting work. During that period, she was allegedly sexually assaulted by the accused, who was around 17 years and 10 months old at the time of the alleged offence, and has since attained the age of 18. He was part of the same group. A few days later, she travelled to Kendrapada district with other labourers for agricultural work. After complaining of severe abdominal pain, she was admitted to a local hospital, where doctors found that she was pregnant.Acting on the medical report, a case was registered and police detained the accused. “After registering the case, we detained the suspect concerned and are proceeding as per law. He will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board,” said Anandpur SDPO Kamal Kumar Panda.
