Baripada: In a deeply disturbing incident, a four year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a minor boy in Jamda area of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. The accused, a 15 year-old boy, has been apprehended by the police soon after the matter came to light. 

As per reports, the child was playing in the backyard of her house when the teenager approached her. He then lured the minor girl on the pretext of giving her candies and sexually assaulted her. When her parents could not find her, they began a frantic search in the village. They later found her in a traumatised state. They immediately rushed her to Rairangpur Sub-Divisonal Hospital but as the child's condition was critical, she was referred to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (PRM MCH) in Baripada. 

Hospital authorities shared that the child had sustained serious injuries but is now stable after timely treatment. 

Accused was a neighbour, school dropout

Family sources said the accused was living in the neighbourhoood and was a school dropout. He used to frequently visit the victim's house. 

Police, meanwhile, swung into action and nabbed the boy later in the night on Wednesday. He will be produced before the juvenile court, they added.

The district administration informed that the minor victim is recuperating and responding well to the treatment. "We visited PRM MCH today and met the child along with her parents. Our team held discussions with the Registrar and the Head of the Department (HOD) regarding the child's medical condition and provision of a special diet to ensure her proper care and recovery. As per the doctor's statement, the child's health condition is currently stable," the DCPO said.