Nayagarh: In yet another shameful incident, a 55 year-old Accredited Social health Activist (ASHA) on duty was allegedly assaulted and abused in full public glare while a youth trying to rescue her was brutally attacked by drunk miscreants in Odisha's Nayagarh district on Friday night. 

The matter came to light after the victim woman filed a complaint with Fatehgarh police in this regard.

As per reports, the health worker had gone to give oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc supplements to people suffering from diarrhoea in Parbatipur village at around 8.30 pm. She was on her way to hand over the medicines to affected families when three drunk youths intercepted her. When the ASHA worker pleaded to let her go, the miscreants allegedly started hurling abuses and manhandled her. The police complaint stated that one of the inebriated gang members attempted to even strip her when she argued with them. The incident snowballed when a local youth, identified as Mayadhar Pradhan, was attacked with a sword by the accused when he tried to intervene and save the woman. 

While the ASHA worker managed to get away, Mayadhar sustained severe head injury. Villagers rushed him to Bhapur community health centre for treatment. Sources said locals witnessed the assault on the woman but did not dare to come to her rescue as the miscreants were known to bully people in the area. Later in the night, the health worker filed a police complaint following which cops arrived at the spot and started an investigation. 

Police said condition of the youth undergoing treatment is stable. A case has been registered and efforts are underway to nab the accused.