15-year-old hospitalised after alleged rape by neighbour in Odisha’s Angul

BHUBANESWAR: A 15-year-old girl has been hospitalised with seizure-like symptoms after allegedly being raped by a neighbour in Odisha’s Angul district, police said on Thursday. The accused, a youth in his early twenties, remains at large as investigators conduct searches to trace him.

The incident occurred on October 18 when the minor was alone at her residence while her parents were at work. According to the police, the accused entered the house around 2 pm, overpowered the girl, and sexually assaulted her before threatening her with consequences if she disclosed the attack. Reports also indicate that the accused allegedly tied the victim's hands and legs during the assault. The victim later narrated the ordeal to her parents upon their return.

When the family approached the accused’s relatives to confront them, they were allegedly abused and turned away [1, 2]. The family subsequently approached the Begedia police station on Thursday to lodge a first information report [1, 2]. Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions for criminal intimidation. The case has been registered as number 349/26.

The survivor has been experiencing severe trauma and developed seizure-like symptoms following the assault, which delayed her medical examination. She was referred to a hospital for treatment. Asutosh Samal, sub-inspector at the Begedia police station, stated, “Once the victim’s health condition improves, her medical examination and other legal procedures will be completed”. Her statement before a magistrate is yet to be recorded due to her medical condition [1, 2].

This incident adds to a series of severe crimes against minors in the district over the past year. In February 2026, Angul police arrested a 20-year-old man, identified as Ashish Naik, for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in the NTPC police station area [3, 5]. In a separate case in March 2025, a 32-year-old daily labourer was detained for the assault and murder of a five-year-old girl in the district.

The delay in medical examination and magistrate statements highlights the critical intersection of physical trauma and legal procedures in sexual assault cases involving minors. When victims suffer severe psychological or physiological shock, such as the seizure-like symptoms reported in this case, the standard medical examination window can be compromised. This underscores the need for specialised trauma care and expedited medico-legal protocols for minor survivors in semi-urban districts to ensure forensic evidence is not lost.

As the investigation continues, police are focusing on technical surveillance and field operations to apprehend the absconding accused. Authorities have assured that once the minor’s health stabilises, the remaining legal and forensic procedures will be expedited to ensure a robust prosecution.