4 men arrested for raping 2 minor girls in Ganjam

Berhampur: Four men were arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping two cousins, aged 13 and 14, over two days in Ganjam district, police officers said."The accused, three aged 21 and one aged 22 — two welders and two fishermen — were apprehended while attempting to flee the state on Wednesday night," Saravana Vivek M, SP of Berhampur, said.Police said the girl aged 14, a Class IX student, was attending a relative's wedding on Sunday with her mother when one of the accused, known to her, lured her to an isolated location on Tuesday. He allegedly raped her before calling three of his friends, who also sexually assaulted her.When the girl's sister went searching for her, she found her in distress. The survivors, fearing to return home, spent the night at a relative's house. The following day, the accused allegedly took both girls to another location where two of them sexually assaulted them.Police said the accused later dropped the girls near their village, during which one of them allegedly raped the girl aged 13, a Class VIII student.The crime came to light when one of the survivors's mother questioned them about their whereabouts. Medical examination has been conducted and both girls have been produced before the district child welfare committee (CWC) for counselling. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and Pocso Act. A BJD delegation, led by former minister Snehangini Chhuria, met the Berhampur SP and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.