The arrests were made after the father of the class 7 student and the district child welfare committee lodged separate complaints at the Rajkanika police station, alleging that the accused teachers had raped the minor, a senior officer said.
Five teachers were arrested in Odisha for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl. This highlights issues of child safety and institutional accountability, relevant to social justice and governance.
On February 22, 2026, five individuals—four teachers and one school peon—were arrested in Kendrapara district, Odisha for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl student over a period of two years. The assaults reportedly occurred on school premises at an English medium school. This case highlights serious gaps in institutional accountability and child safety in educational settings.
Five individuals were arrested and remanded in judicial custody:
Applicable Laws:
Investigation Steps:
Parents and students staged demonstrations in front of the school to protest the incident and demand accountability.
Likely Question Angles:
Child Protection and Institutional Accountability
Criminal Law Reforms
Procedural Justice
Social Issues
Possible Question Format:
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the legal proceedings initiated in response to the alleged sexual assault case in Kendrapara district, Odisha: 1. The victim's video statement was recorded under Section 164 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). 2. The alleged sexual assault is being treated as gang-rape and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The option at index 1 is correct because statement 2 accurately reflects that the alleged sexual assault is being treated as gang-rape and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The option at index 0 is incorrect because the victim's video statement was recorded under Section 180, not Section 164, of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding legal provisions related to crimes against children: 1. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, defines 'child' as any person below the age of eighteen years. 2. In cases of sexual assault involving minors, the victim's video statement is recorded under Section 164 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). 3. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) consolidates and amends the provisions relating to criminal offences, replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, in Section 2(1)(d), defines 'child' as any person below the age of eighteen years. Statement 2 is incorrect. While Section 164 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) (which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) deals with recording of confessions and statements by a Magistrate, the specific information provided indicates that the victim’s video statement was recorded under Section 180 of the BNSS, which pertains to recording of statements by a police officer. Therefore, the statement claiming it is recorded under Section 164 is not accurate in this context. Statement 3 is correct. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is one of the three new criminal laws enacted in India, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860, consolidating and amending the provisions relating to criminal offences.
Q3. In the Odisha school teacher assault case, under which section of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was the victim's video statement recorded?
The option at index 2 is correct because the victim's video statement was recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The option at index 0 is wrong because Section 179 is not mentioned in the context. The option at index 1 is wrong because Section 181 is not mentioned in the context. The option at index 3 is wrong because Section 182 is not mentioned in the context.
Q4. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which provides for the protection of children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography, was enacted in India in which year?
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was enacted in 2012 to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The option at index 1 (2012) is correct. The option at index 0 (2011) and index 2 (2013) are numerically adjacent years, often used as distractors for such questions. The option at index 3 (2000) is the year the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act was enacted, which is another significant law related to child welfare.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the case of alleged sexual assault in Kendrapara district, Odisha: 1. The victim's video statement was recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). 2. The accused have been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, treating the alleged sexual assault as a single instance of rape. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The option at index 0 is correct because the victim's video statement was indeed recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The option at index 1 is incorrect because the alleged sexual assault would be treated as a gang-rape of a minor, not a single instance of rape, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).