Five school teachers held in Odisha for 'raping' 13-year-old girl

Four teachers, including a woman teacher, were arrested in Kendrapara district of Odisha for allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student on the school premises for two years. A peon of the school was also accused of sexual misconduct in connection with the girl. The girl student was studying in an English medium school. According to Kendrapara district police, the accused teachers have been identified as Chandan Kumar Prusty (37), Biswa Ranjan Sahoo (31), Rashmikanta Biswal (47), and Minati Bai (34). Rashmi Ranjan Rana (32), the school peon, was the fifth accused. All five accused were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. The police took action after the survivor’s mother lodged a complaint with the Rajkanika police station. The parent reportedly came to know about her daughter’s ordeal when latter refused to attend school in January. She told her family members that she had been sexually assaulted on multiple occasions within the school premises over the past two years. Kendrapara Superintendent of Police, Siddharth Kataria, said as the case was sensitive, it had been red-flagged. A special public prosecutor would be appointed to take the case to logical conclusion in an expeditious manner, said Mr. Kataria. #### Statement recorded Meanwhile, the victim’s video statement was recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). While accused male teachers and peon had undergone medical examination, the minor girl was sent for medical treatment. The alleged sexual assault would be treated as a gang-rape of a minor and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Mother of victim told the police that no action had been taken against accused even though a formal complaint was raised before school principal in month of January. After victim’s father, who is a plumber working outside of State returned, family mustered courage to approach police. Parents and students staged demonstration in front of school over the incident. Published - February 22, 2026 02:40 am IST ### Related Topics Orissa / sexual assault