Odisha teachers arrested for alleged rape of Class 7 student

In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through Odisha, four teachers and a peon from a private school in Kendrapara district have been arrested for allegedly raping a Class 7 student over an extended period, with reports suggesting the abuse may have continued for over a year. The Indian Express reported the incident on February 22, 2026, and other news outlets like The Hindu and The New Indian Express also carried similar reports around the same time, with most specifying the date of arrests as Saturday, February 21, 2026. The case came to light after the victim, who is in Class VII, narrated her ordeal to her mother. Following this disclosure, the victim's family lodged a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on February 18, 2026. The CWC initiated an inquiry, visiting the school and recording the victim's statement in accordance with legal provisions. Subsequently, the matter was referred to the police, who then registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Police arrested five individuals associated with the school: four teachers and one peon. The accused teachers have been identified in some reports as Chandan Kumar Prusty (37), Biswa Ranjan Sahoo (31), Rashmikanta Biswal (47), and a woman teacher, Minati Bai (34), along with the peon, Rashmi Ranjan Rana (32). The police have booked them on charges of gang-rape of a minor, criminal intimidation, and under provisions of the POCSO Act. Some reports indicate that a woman teacher was arrested for abetting the crime and concealment. According to the complaints, the alleged abuse occurred multiple times within the school premises over the past two years, and the victim was reportedly threatened to prevent her from speaking out. The survivor's mother had reportedly complained about inappropriate behavior by some teachers to the school principal the previous month, but no action was taken, according to one report. The school principal, however, stated that they were unaware of the incident until the family filed a complaint with the CWC. Other news outlets have also reported on similar incidents in Odisha. For instance, The New Indian Express reported on February 21, 2026, about five school staff being held for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl over two years in Kendrapara. The Hindu also reported on February 21, 2026, that five school teachers were arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in Kendrapara district. Press Trust of India (PTI) also reported a similar incident on February 21, 2026, with five teachers arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in Odisha's Kendrapara district. ETV Bharat reported on February 21, 2026, that five staff members of a private school in Kendrapara were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a student over the last two years. ANI News reported on February 21, 2026, that five people, including four teachers of a private school, were arrested in Kendrapara district in connection with the alleged assault of a minor Class 7 girl student. The Indian Express article, which is the primary source for verification, is dated February 22, 2026, and its headline states 'Class 7 girl 'raped for over a year': 4 private school teachers arrested in Odisha'. Another report by The Indian Express on February 22, 2026, reiterates the arrest of four teachers and a peon for allegedly raping a Class 7 student for over a year. Credibility of Sources: * **The Indian Express:** According to a Reuters survey in 2022, The Indian Express was ranked alongside BBC News and DD News with a 71% trust score. Ground News rates The Indian Express as having High factuality and a Lean Left bias. Media Bias/Fact Check rates it as Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing and a few failed fact checks, and Left-Center biased. * **The Hindu:** In a 2021 survey, The Hindu had a trust score of 70%. Ground News rates The Hindu's factuality as Very High and its bias as Lean Left. Media Bias/Fact Check rates it as Mostly Factual in reporting and Left-Center Biased. * **The Times of India:** The Times of India (TOI) was rated as the most trusted news brand in India in a 2022 Reuters survey, with a 75% trust score. However, Media Bias/Fact Check rates TOI as Right-Center Biased and Mixed for factual reporting due to four failed fact checks. These sources corroborate the core details of the incident: the location (Kendrapara, Odisha), the number of arrests (five individuals, including teachers and a peon), the victim's age (Class 7 student), and the alleged nature of the crime (sexual assault over a period of time). The discrepancies lie in the exact duration of the abuse (over a year versus over two years) and the precise number of teachers arrested (four in some reports, three in others, with a fifth being a peon). However, the central facts are consistent across multiple credible news outlets. The news category is Crime and India. The news is specific to India. The publication date for the Indian Express article appears to be February 22, 2026.

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