As the heat generated over alleged torture of an eight-year-old boy at Khariar in Orissa continues to rage, yet another incident of alleged 'branding' of a 12-year-old girl in Raya has come to light.

The police registered a case against a government employee and his wife yesterday for allegedly torturing Manju Sethi who was working for them as a domestic help.

According to Kishore Dangayat, Inspector in-charge of town police station, Manju had fled the residence of Satyajit Sethi, an employee of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) yesterday, and taken shelter in a grocery shop.

She recounted before shopowner Bhaskar Rao her plight and the latter lodged an FIR with police on the basis of which the case has been registered under various IPC sections, he said.

Manju's left wrist had "branding" marks while she alleged she was often beaten up by Satyajit's wife, the inspector said.

He said Manju hailed from Mahapada village of Balasore district and her family members had been contacted and asked to come and take custody of the girl.

The girl was at present sheltered in the police station, he said.

Eight-year-old Prasanta Nahak, who was allegedly tortured by a couple belonging to the erstwhile royal family of Khariar, was being treated at the M K C G Medical College Hospital at Berhampur following injuries.