26-year-old man arrested for raping deaf and mute girl

A 26-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a deaf-and-mute girl at Jamajhari village in Kandhamal district four days ago.

The accused, Sujit Kumar Dehuri, who is married and has a two-year-old child, was arrested yesterday and medical tests were conducted in connection with the case, sub-divisional police officer, Phulbani Sadara, P K Panigrahi, said.

Medical tests on the rape survivor were done the previous day, he said.

Police said the accused allegedly raped the 18-year-old girl in her house last Friday when she was alone. Dehuri, who belongs to the same village, allegedly entered the girl's house on the pretext of drinking water and raped her when he found she was alone at home, said police.

The survivor conveyed to her mother about the 'rape' on Friday evening. The mother accosted Dehuri about the incident and he allegedly attacked and threatened her, police said.

"We have registered a case against the accused, while the girl's mother lodged an FIR at police station on Sunday. He was arrested from his home in the same village," inspector in-charge, Tumudibandh police station, B C Ghadei, said.

"We are conducting inquiry into the matter. Further steps will be taken after getting medical examination reports of both the victim and the accused," he added.