Odisha college girl raped in forest while returning home with fiance

Berhampur: A week after the sensational incident of a minor girl allegedly gangraped at a forest in Koraput district, a similar incident has come to fore, this time in Ganjam district, raising serious questions over the safety of girls and women in Odisha.

According to reports, a young woman hailing from Bhanjanagar was allegedly raped by a youth while five of his associates cooperated him in the act and recorded the incident with their mobile phones at a forest near Budhakendu Thakurani Temple in Gangapur area yesterday.

The accused intercepted the victim, a Plus Three 2nd year student, while she was returning home with her fiance, an LIC agent by profession, after visiting the temple. They thrashed him, forcibly took her to a nearby forest and allegedly raped her.

“We were returning from the temple after having darshan at around 3.30 pm. Six persons came on two bikes and intercepted us. They thrashed me and snatched away 3 mobile phones from us along with Rs 1,000. They took her to a nearby forest and raper her. One Siba Nayak committed the act while his associates recorded the incident on their mobile phones,” the fiance of the girl said.

After the victim and her fiance lodged a written complaint with police, six persons were detained for their suspected involvement in the incident.

“A case has been registered into the incident at Gangapur police station. The accused and the girl will undergo medical examination and the former will be forwarded to court,” said Utkal Keshari Dash, SDPO, Bhanjanagar.