Odisha minor rape victim's family faces social boycott

Three weeks after the headmaster of a tribal residential school in Odisha’s Koraput district was arrested on charges of impregnating a minor tribal girl, the victim’s family is now facing social boycott.

Early this month, the headmaster of the government residential school in Balda area of Koraput’s Nandapur block was arrested over impregnating a girl studying in class 9.

The father of the girl lodged an FIR accusing headmaster Bidhubhushan Nayak of forcing the girl to have physical relationship with him.

Doctors have ruled out abortion as the girl is five months pregnant.

While the victim’s family is worried about her health, their miseries have been compounded by the social boycott of the villagers who are demanding a community feast for pregnancy of their daughter before marriage.

“I am a daily labourer. The community feast would cost me at least Rs 30000. How can I arrange such a big amount. Besides, I need money for reagular health check up of my daughter,” said the victim’s father.