In a shocking development, a jilted lover with the help of his friend, raped a 14-year-old minor girl in Kharinashi under Mahakalapada police station of Kendrapara district and set her on fire to destroy evidences. The girl is battling for life at the SCB Medical College & Hospital in Cuttack.

The girl sustained 70 per cent burn injuries and is in a critical condition. The main accused Pradip Das (21), a resident of Kharinashi village, was later apprehended from Paradip. Another accused Ekadashi Das is still on the run.

According to police sources, the girl was punished, as she refused to accept his demands for an affair. The accused attacked her yesterday while she was returning home after carrying water from the village tube-well. The victim is studying in Class VIII.

Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and Mahakalpada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak have visited the victim in the hospital and assured all help to her family.