December 7, 2009: In a major breakthrough, Orissa police on Sunday arrested the main accused in the rape of a nun during last year's violence against Christians in Kandhamal.

Police on Monday confirmed to media that Gururam Patra, one of the main accused in the 2008 nun rape case, was arrested from Dharampur area.

Patra is said to have led the mob that attacked the nun at K Nuagaon, 70 km from Phulbani on August 25, 2008.

The police have so far arrested 19 people in the sensational incident. Another 11 accused are still to be arrested, said investigating officer BK Mohanty.

Some of the accused were identified in the two Test Identification Parade (TIP) earlier conducted by the crime branch of the Orissa police.

The first TIP was held on January 5 when the nun identified two of the ten accused. In the second TIP, about 70 were produced for identifying.

According to a statement given to the police, the nun alleged that she was raped and paraded naked by a Hindu mob avenging the murder of a local VHP leader.

The 29-year-old nun also accused the police for standing idle when pleaded for help.