Bhadrak: After being on the run for almost three days, Odisha cops today arrested the youth accused of raping a minor girl at a village in Nilagiri under Balasore district.

A team of Nilagiri police had raided several possible hideouts and finally was able to apprehend the accused from Bhadrak today.

“We had formed three teams to nab the accused. The teams were sent to Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur. The accused Nityachandan Jena has been arrested from Baant Chhak in Bhadrak town this evening,” Balasore SP B Jugal Kishore said.

The cops arrested Nitya Chandan Jena alias Jiban (24) on allegations of raping a four-year-girl after being lured with chocolates by a youth and her private parts mutilated. While the incident took place on Friday, a case was registered with local police the following day.

Also Read: Odisha shocker: 4-yr girl raped, private parts mutilated

Since the case, the accused had gone into hiding owing which the investigators were on the lookout for Jena.

Officials of District Child Protection Committee took the rape survivor to hospital for medical examination. Later, women counsellors also had session with the girl.

On the other hand, statement of the minor was recorded under section 164 of CrPC.

The shocking issue has, meanwhile, gained political colour with Remuna MLA Gobinda Charan Das of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) linking the Nilagiri MLA Sukanta Nayak with the accused of being his nephew.

As Nayak belongs to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the government has not initiated any action in the case, Das had alleged.

It may be recalled here that the girl was allegedly raped after being lured with chocolates by Jena on April 13.