Kendrapara (Odisha): Authorities in Odisha’s Kendrapara district have arrested five individuals, including four teachers and a staff member of a private English medium school, for the alleged repeated rape of a 13-year-old student. The arrests took place on Saturday, February 21, following a harrowing account provided by the Class VII student, who claims she was subjected to sexual exploitation for over a year. The case has sent shockwaves through the Rajkanika area, prompting local officials to treat the investigation as a “highly sensitive” priority.
The systemic abuse came to light after the minor eventually disclosed her ordeal to her family. On February 18, the girl’s father and the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) filed separate formal complaints at the Rajkanika police station. CWC member Swagatika Patra noted that a 48-hour preliminary internal inquiry was conducted by the committee—including a visit to the school premises—before the matter was handed over to the police for criminal proceedings. The District Education Officer has also been instructed to launch a parallel investigation into the school’s administrative oversight.
Police have registered the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria confirmed that the victim’s statement has been recorded and medical examinations for both the survivor and the accused have been completed. To ensure a thorough and unbiased probe, a specialized team from the “Crime Against Women” unit has been dispatched from the district headquarters to supervise the ongoing investigation.
The incident has sparked a political outcry in the region. Members of the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) met with the Kendrapara SP on Sunday to submit a memorandum, demanding the most stringent possible punishment for the perpetrators. As the accused are forwarded to the court today, the focus remains on the school’s failure to protect its students, with the family alleging that school authorities initially ignored their internal complaints before the CWC intervened.
