Baripada: In a disturbing pattern unfolding with a surge of sexual violence cases in Odisha, a 25 year-old woman was allegedly gang raped by three men while returning from a temple in Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district. This is the fifth such incident in the State that has grabbed headlines in a span of 10 days.

Though the crime took place on June 24 (Tuesday), it came to the fore the following day after the woman's family filed a complaint. Police have arrested two persons in this connection, who were identified as Bikash Kumar Patra(33) and Lokanath Mohanta (30). Both are from Malharpada village in Karanjia and have been produced in court. The third accused Bapi Patra is still on the run. 

As per the complaint, the woman, who belongs to Nuagan village in Bisoi, had gone to her uncle's place in Haladiaposhi. On Tuesday, she visited the Hanuman temple at Nadhagadia and was returning to her uncle's place when three miscreants intercepted her near a cashew forest. Before she could react, they abducted her on their two-wheeler and took her to a deserted roadside restaurant near Kuita petrol pump. While Bikas raped her, Lokanath molested her and Bapi filmed the incident. They then left the woman at Karanjia College Chhak and fled. 

After coming home, the survivor shared the ordeal with her family and filed a complaint acting on which a case was registered by Karanjia Police. 

Confirming the incident, police informed that the main accused raped the woman while the other two abetted him. Their bike has been seized. Two persons have been apprehended and efforts are on to nab the third accused at the earliest, they said. 

The incident comes barely days after the horrifying gangrape in Ganjam district's Gopalpur beach, the alleged gangrape and murder of a 17 year-old girl in Keonjhar and molestation of two young women from Delhi who were visiting a temple in Jajpur, triggering massive public outrage. 

 

 

 



 

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