Malkanagiri (Odisha): A 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by four persons, including three juveniles, in a village of the district, police said on Tuesday.

The victim, a resident of MPV-29 village here, had been on a visit to nearby MPV-33 village eight days ago to witness a yatra when she was forcibly taken to an isolated area by the four accused and sexually assaulted by them, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Malkangiri, K Siva Subraminiam said.

A case was registered against the four youths based on the victim`s complaint, he said adding, three juveniles have been detained after they were identified by the girl.

The class VIII student`s health kept on deteriorating after the incident, which made her parents even refer her to black magicians and quacks for treatment.

On being repeatedly quizzed by her mother, the girl finally narrated the incident, following which a case was registered, Subramaniam said.

The girl was first admitted at a government hospital in Kalimela but later shifted to the district headquarters hospital here after her condition became serious.

Though the girl was unable to speak, she had named three of the four persons in slurred voice, Superintendent of police (Malkangiri) Akhilesh Singh said.

On the basis of her information, police have detained three of the accused who are all juveniles, Singh said adding that they were being interrogated.

"The condition of the girl is being strictly monitored in the hospital and efforts are on to nab the fourth youth involved in the crime," the SDPO said.

A medical test was conducted on the girl but nothing could be established in the available facility. She would be sent to MKCG Medical College Hospital at Berhampur with a special ambulance for further investigation, the SP said.

Meanwhile, it has been reported from Sambalpur that a body of a five-year-old girl was found floating in a pond at Gopalmal under Ainthapali police station here.

Though initially it was suspected to be a case of rape and murder but investigations revealed that the girl was witness to a crime and therefore was killed by the criminals.

PTI