Bhubaneswar, September 7: Nayagada Police have taken five juveniles into custody in connection with the alleged sexual assault and murder of a minor student at a madrasa in Nayagarh district. The individuals, classified as "Children in Conflict with Law" (CCL), were presented before the Juvenile Justice Board and charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Subhash Panda, the Board has ordered the juveniles to be held at Angul Bala Sudhar Gruha, a juvenile rehabilitation facility, for 13 days pending further investigation.
The incident reportedly began on August 31, when an older student allegedly assaulted the victim and attempted to dispose of him in a septic tank. The boy managed to escape, sustaining minor injuries. However, based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the child was lured back to the premises on September 2 by two other students. There, he was allegedly attacked by a group of five individuals, strangled, and his body was subsequently placed in the same tank.
A formal case was registered on September 3 under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators, including forensic experts, conducted a site inspection and interviewed witnesses. Evidence gathered suggests that the victim had been subjected to repeated abuse over time and had expressed intent to disclose the incidents to his parents. This may have led to threats against him.
Nayagada Police continue to investigate the case, and the juveniles remain in custody as legal proceedings unfold.
