Bhubaneswar: The police in Odisha’s Baleshwar district have intensified their investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Jaleswar area.

The girl reportedly went missing from her locality six days ago. Her body was recovered from a forest at Bartana Gram Panchayat under Jaleswar police limits on Thursday.

The cops have arrested the prime accused, identified as Chandrakanta Jena, after registering a case in this regard.

Baleshwar Superintendent of Police (SP) Pratyush Diwaker, while briefing the media, said the minor girl was raped and murdered on the day she went missing. According to the SP, the accused allegedly attempted to establish physical relations with the girl against her will and strangled her to death when she resisted.

Cop suspended over dereliction of duty

Action has been initiated against two police personnel over alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the rape and murder of the minor girl. Nampo police outpost officer Karan Marandi has been suspended, while Jaleswar police station Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Ashok Kumar Barik has been transferred to the district police headquarters. Mukunda Murari Patra has been appointed as the new IIC of Jaleswar police station.

The development comes amid mounting public anger and political reactions over the incident, with demands for justice for the victim’s family and stringent action against all those involved.

The investigation is still underway, and police are examining whether any other persons were involved in the crime. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.

Road blockade, protests in Jaleswar

Angry locals staged a road blockade at Paschimabard Chhak under Jaleswar police station limits, burning tyres and disrupting traffic to demand justice for the victim’s family and the arrest of all those involved. Tension prevailed in the area during the protest.

The incident has also triggered political protests. A Congress delegation staged a demonstration at Jaleswar police station, demanding strict action against the accused and justice for the victim. The protest was attended by Ashok Das, Deputy Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party in the Odisha Assembly, along with state and district-level party leaders.

Meanwhile, teams from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress visited the affected area and met the victim’s family.