Odisha Priest Held for Stripping, Assaulting Minor Boy at Temple
Gajapati temple priest detained after allegedly assaulting child on suspicion of theft; boy rescued and hospitalised
A temple priest in Odisha’s Gajapati district has been arrested after he allegedly stripped and assaulted a minor boy on suspicion of theft inside the Hanuman Temple premises in Paralakhemundi.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when the child, who had gone to the temple to play during a holiday, was accused of theft by the priest. According to witnesses, the priest assaulted the boy, leading to intervention by locals who immediately alerted the police.
Officers from Paralakhemundi police station rushed to the spot, rescued the child, and admitted him to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. The accused priest was taken into custody and a case has been registered against him.
The boy, who has already lost his father, lives with his grandmother in Paralakhemundi. His mother works as a migrant labourer in Andhra Pradesh.
District Child Protection Officer Arun Tripathy strongly condemned the incident, terming it “deeply unfortunate.”
“It is extremely disheartening that the child, who has already lost his father and whose mother is away for work, had to face such brutality. No child should ever be subjected to such treatment, irrespective of any suspicion,” Tripathy said.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage among locals, who have demanded strict punishment for the accused and better safeguards for vulnerable children in the area.
