Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: A minor girl was allegedly raped by a man in Bhubaneswar, a source said Friday.

The accused has been arrested by the cops.

The survivor, who was reportedly in critical condition, has been admitted to Capital Hospital. Investigators from Mahila Police Station said they have arrested the owner of the house where the incident allegedly occurred and are recording statements as part of the ongoing probe.

A member of the State Women’s Commission visited the incident site and spoke with police, while officers also recorded the survivor’s and her family’s accounts at the hospital, the source said. Police confirmed that the investigation is continuing and necessary legal procedures are being followed.

The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 report shows that crimes against women remain high across India. A total of 4,48,211 crimes against women were reported nationwide in 2023, including 29,670 cases of rape at a rate of 4.4 incidents per lakh female population, according to the data. Of these, 28,821 involved adult women and 849 involved girls below 18. Total attempts to rape numbered 2,796, and acid attacks were reported in 113 cases. Overall, reported crimes against women have gradually increased compared with previous years.

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In Odisha, NCRB figures show that crimes against women rose to 25,914 in 2023 from 23,648 in 2022, while offences against children increased to 8,577 from 8,240 during the same period, the report said. Rape cases in the state declined slightly, with 1,195 reported in 2023, compared with 1,464 in 2022.