Infant killed in rape bid

PATNAGARH: In an act of savagery, four persons in an inebriated condition allegedly attempted to rape a woman which resulted in the death of her one-year-old son on Wednesday night. The incident in Ghasian village under Larambha police outpost of Patnagarh police limits, 18 km from here, has led to a public outcry on Thursday. Hundreds of villagers joined the traders  protesting the barbaric act. Traders downed shutters demanding arrest of the culprits, whom the police reportedly let off soon after nabbing them. The villagers ransacked the police outpost. Sources said the rag picker family of Raben Ghungia (33), natives of Mahasamund in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, has been camping in the village for more than a week. The couple have three daughters and two sons, one of whom died. On Wednesday at about 9.30 pm four inebriated youths passing by the road, where Ghungia family was camping, spotted the woman. They allegedly beat up Raben mercilessly and attempted to rape his wife. In the scuffle that ensued between the victim and the accused, her infant son Khudar was seriously injured and died on Thursday morning.  A village youth, Santosh Tumnia, who tried to intervene was also assaulted. Finding no way out Santosh called up Larambha Police Outpost. The accused were taken to the outpost. Interestingly, they were let off after inquiry. Yet to come out of the shock of death of her son, the woman demanded justice. Moved by her wails, the villagers laid siege to the outpost.Patnagarh Police rushed to the spot but failed to restore normalcy. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) LN Panda accompanied Tehsildar Nehru Majhi and a posse of police reached the village to pacify the protestors. The child’s body was taken for an autopsy and one of the accused rounded up while search for others is on.