Four hockey trainers picked up in Odisha for sexually assaulting minor girl

Four hockey trainers were picked up by Jajpur district police in Odisha after a minor girl alleged that they had sexually assaulted her in a lodge in the first week of July.

A girl had lodged a complaint with Jajpur Town Police on Sunday evening alleging that the four trainers had invited her to a lodge for dinner on July 3 and sexually assaulted her.

“We have picked up four hockey trainers for questioning after a minor girl, a hockey player, levelled allegation of sexual assaults. We will proceed further on the case after the girl records her statement before a magistrate,” said Sarat Patra, Inspector-in-Charge at the police station.

“ They [trainers] have allegedly gang-raped her in the lodge. Police have recorded a statement of the girl under Section 180 of BNSS,” said Rajiv Mohanty, special public prosecutor in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) court.

Mr. Mohanty said the girl had recorded her statement under Section 183 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before a woman magistrate in POCSO court. He, however, said the girl had not undergone medical examination.

Meanwhile, the district collector of Jagatsinghpur has ordered suspension of the principal and mathematics teacher of Swami Arupananda College following alleged suppression regarding sexual harassment of a minor girl in the college.