4 Accused of 2020 Minor Girl’s Rape & Abortion Attempt Case Arrested in Sundargarh

Bhubaneswar: After almost 13 years, four persons involved in the rape of a minor girl and alleged abortion attempt were arrested by police in Odisha’s Sundargarh district.

The arrested persons were a pharmacist of Bisra government hospital Sanat Kumar Mohanty, owner of a private nursing home Sanjay Kumar Panda, Mahavir Mahato, and prime accused Sanjit Mahato. Mahavir and Sanjit are brothers.

According to police sources, Sanjit was arrested on December 25. The other three were arrested on December 28.

According to police sources, the minor girl of Bisra, who was serving as a domestic help was allegedly raped by Sanjit in 2020. The victim became pregnant after the rape. She was allegedly persuaded to go for abortion. Sanjit, his brother Mahavir and pharmacist Sanat took the victim to a private nursing home to terminate the pregnancy.

Although Sanjit paid Rs 15,000 for the abortion to the nursing home owner Sanjay Panda, abortion could not be done as it was too late. Later the victim gave birth to a child at the nursing home. The concerned doctor and the nursing home owner told the victim a lie that she delivered a premature dead child.

The doctor allegedly kept the child with him.

The family of the girl had filed a complaint at Bisra Police Station in connection with the incident.

Police rescued the baby on December 17, 2023, and handed it over to the local CWC.

Further investigation is continuing. The accused doctor is absconding.