Banapur Rape Victim Suicide: Prime Accused, Brother Held

Khurda: A week after the suicide of a rape victim minor girl at Suanpadia village under Banapur police station limits in Odisha’s Khurda district, police arrested the prime accused and his brother on Tuesday.

The arrested have been identified as Nimai Palei, the prime accused and his elder brother Kedar Palei.

The victim and her family members, a day after the incident, had lodged a complaint with Banapur Police Station on January 2 after the villagers had a meeting on January 1. At the meeting, Nimai said he had not raped the minor girl. He was also supported by his elder brother.

But as the police did not take any action against the accused, the minor girl committed suicide by consuming poison in the night on January 24.

Soon after her death, the irate villagers of Suanpadia took the body of the deceased and staged dharna in front of Banapur Police Station for eight hours. Apprehending trouble, the Khurda SP transferred Banpur IIC to the district police headquarters.

Police later began investigation and detained Kedar. Acting on his information, police arrested Nimai from a village under Kuhudi police station limits on Tuesday night.

“We have arrested the two brothers. The prime accused, during interrogation, has admitted to his crime. He will undergo a medical examination at Banapur Hospital today,” Police said.