Man held for raping, impregnating minor daughter

A 35-year-old man was today arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating his 16-year-old daughter, police said. The accused, identified as Niranjan Berah, had allegedly raped his daughter repeatedly while she was in sleep around seven months ago at their rented house in Jalapalli on city outskirts. Berah, a labourer, is a native of Odisha, according to Pahadishareef Police. The accused, who has two daughters and one son, had quarrelled with his wife after the incident and threatened them with dire consequences if the matter was disclosed to anyone. "Later, the girl's mother took her to a hospital and got the pregnancy test done on her wherein it was found that she was three-month pregnant. Berah again threatened his wife and other family members that if the matter of pregnancy was disclosed to anyone he would kill all family members," Inspector V V Chalapathi said. The owner of the house, after coming to know about the incident, informed the the police, who arrested Berah after registering a case under relevant sections of the IPC and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).