Bhubaneswar, Jun 30: A 62-year-old man was arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, who later tested positive for HIV and experienced severe bleeding that required hospitalisation, a source said Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Sridhar Ojha, was arrested by Balipatna police after the victim's family filed an FIR.

According to the complaint, Ojha assaulted the minor on multiple occasions when she was alone at home, threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the abuse. The girl became pregnant, and the accused allegedly administered medication to terminate the pregnancy, police said.

On March 20, the girl experienced profuse bleeding and was first taken to Balipatna Community Health Centre before being transferred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where the full extent of the abuse came to light, family members said.

Medical examinations revealed that the girl had contracted HIV, and her life remains at risk, according to family members.

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The source said Ojha had been living with his sister-in-law at his in-laws' home following his wife's death. He had developed an inappropriate interest in the neighbouring girl and, with his sister-in-law's cooperation, allegedly used various inducements and threats to establish a physical relationship with the minor.

The accused had threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone about the abuse, police added.

The investigation is underway. Police did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.