Bhubaneswar, June 29 -- A temple priest was arrested after allegedly stripping and assaulting a minor boy over suspicion of theft at the Hanuman Temple premises in Odisha's Gajapati district.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon in Paralakhemundi. According to police, the minor had gone to the temple premises to play as it was a holiday when the priest allegedly accused him of theft and assaulted him. Locals who witnessed the incident protested and immediately alerted the police.

Police from Paralakhemundi police station reached the spot, rescued the child and shifted him to the Paralakhemundi District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. The accused priest was later arrested and legal action has been initiated.

According to the...