A 59-year-old man has been arrested in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district for allegedly raping his 21-year-old specially-abled daughter repeatedly over a period of time. The crime came to light only after the victim showed physical changes and was later found to be pregnant. She has since delivered a baby girl at the District Headquarters Hospital in Dhenkanal.
The accused has been identified as Rahash Sethi, a resident of the area under Rasol Police Station limits. Superintendent of Police Abhinav Sonkar confirmed to NDTV that a case had been registered and that Sethi had been arrested. “A case has been registered under Case No 85/26 and the accused has been arrested,” Sonkar said, adding that further investigation was underway.
How the Crime Came to Light
According to the official complaint, the accused allegedly exploited his daughter’s physical and mental vulnerability over an extended period. Because of her disability, the victim was unable to communicate or seek help. The situation only came to the fore when her physical condition changed noticeably. She was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dhenkanal, where she gave birth, and the medical examination subsequently revealed the extent of what she had endured.
The incident has triggered shock and deep anger among residents of the area, who have demanded the strictest possible legal action against the accused. The case has also drawn attention to the extreme vulnerability of specially-abled individuals within their own homes and the urgent need for protective mechanisms for such victims who cannot seek help on their own.
