KEONJHAR: Even as a countrywide furore rages over the shocking rape and torture of a five-year-old girl in the national capital, another heinous crime against a 10-year-old tribal girl in Keonjhar came to light when police registered a case in this regard against the headmaster of Bhanarpur primary school under Harichandanpur police station area on Saturday evening. The headmaster Gadadhar Mohanta allegedly molested and raped the Class II Juang tribe girl while she was staying at a government-run hostel for tribals in the district.

The incident took place on April 5, but came to light on April 20. The medical examination of the girl was conducted on Sunday at Harichandanpur community health centre.

Victim expelled from school after rape

Police registered a case against the accused under the SC/ST act in Harichandnapur police station on Saturday after receiving a complaint from the father of the victim, who lives in a remote village in the district. After the incident, the accused headmaster allegedly expelled the victim from the school by issuing her a transfer certificate.

"According to the victim, the accused headmaster molested her several times before raping her on April 5, after which she fell ill and the school authorities sent her home. We are investigating the incident after receiving a complaint from the father of the victim girl. The accused headmaster will soon be behind bars," said Ghatagaon SDPO Pravat Kumar Routray.

"The headmaster was suspended from duty after the case was registered against him. The transfer certificate was given to the guardian of the girl without proper procedure. One cannot give transfer certificate from the school without receiving any application. We will investigate the incident," said Ghatagaon district inspector of schools Madhusudan Chakra.

Sources alleged there was pressure upon the girl's family by some influential local people to suppress the incident. Locals urged police to also take strict action against those trying to suppress the incident.