A 15-year-old schoolgirl who was on her way back home from a friend's birthday party in Malkangiri in south Odisha was abducted by three men and raped last Sunday evening, police reported on Tuesday.
The girl, who was traumatized, was attempting to return home when she was picked up by a truck driver on Malkangiri-Jeypore road at Bijaghati and raped. She was later rescued by some local residents and lodged a police complaint.
The four accused, including the truck driver, were detained, police added on Tuesday.
The girl, who is a resident of Malkangiri Sadar block, had gone out to celebrate a birthday party of one of her friends. On Sunday late evening, when she was returning home, three people abducted her and took her to a spot 10 to 15 kilometers away from Malkangiri town. The three allegedly ill-treated and gang-raped her.
Malkangiri superintendent of police (SP) Vinodh Patil has stated that four individuals who took part in the crime, including the driver of the truck, have been apprehended. They are Manoj Harijan, Rohit Kumar Hial, Bira Bhartia and driver Sobham Singh.
Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik stated that the increase in sexual attacks on women in the state was terrifying.
“A disturbing wave of crimes against women is gripping Odisha... This surge in sexual assaults reflects a troubling erosion of law enforcement. When the various ranks of the police face interference and political pressure, accountability weakens—and women and girls pay the price first. Adding to this concern, the US government last month issued a Level 2 travel advisory that listed Odisha among six Indian states where American employees must seek special approval to travel beyond capital cities. Without urgent and decisive police action and political will backing it, this problem will only grow. The BJP government must act immediately to restore safety and rebuild women’s trust in the system sworn to protect them. BJD will continue to raise its voice for the protection of our mothers and sisters in every forum,” he said in a post on X.
