Two brothers have been arrested for sexually assaulting a minor girl and impregnating her in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district.

The girl now, 18, were subjected to sexual assault by 62-year-old Bhagyadhar Dash and his younger brother, 46-year-old Panchanan Pradhan, for months that resulted in her pregnancy. The girl when she was minor was working as a cook in the house of two Dash brothers.

The accused used to threaten the victim of dire consequence if she opened her mouth outside. The two siblings were also accused of attempting to kill the girl. Since the girl had lost her mother at young age and belong to poor family, the two siblings were said to have take advantage of it.

Family members of the girl took to hospital when she complained about pain in stomach. After detailed health check-up, she was found to be pregnant. The two brothers tried to hush up the matter with help of other influential villagers by offering financial help and issuing threat.

A case against the accused persons and another villagers had been registered under Sections 49, 62(2)(m), and 351(3) of the BNS, along with Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Both the victim and the accused were sent to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jagatsinghpur for medical examination. The two main accused were arrested and forwarded to court on Friday (July 25, 2025).