Odisha: 2 held, 1 detained for teenager’s gang rape in Puri district

BHUBANESWAR: Two men were arrested and another detained in Puri district on Monday for allegedly gang-raping a 19-year-old college student after holding her male friend hostage. The assault occurred on Saturday in a casuarina forest, where the victim had gone with her male friend.The identities of the accused have not been disclosed as the investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to arrest additional suspects.The rape survivor, a resident of Puri district, filed a police complaint on Monday evening, which led to the arrest of the two primary suspects. “Initially hesitant to report the crime due to trauma, she was encouraged to come forward after receiving support and counselling from female police officers. We promptly arrested two men and have detained another suspect. We are currently investigating the potential involvement of additional suspects,” Puri SP Prateek Singh told TOI.The incident took place when the survivor and her classmate visited a temple and later wandered into a nearby casuarina forest, located about 500 metres from a beach. A group of local men, whose number is yet to be ascertained, allegedly followed them, capturing videos of the couple.“When they were confronted, the suspects attempted to extort money by threatening to release the footage. The situation escalated when the accused forcibly separated the male friend from the girl and overpowered him. Subsequently, two of the men took turns to sexually assault the girl,” another police officer said.The incident rekindled the memory of a similar incident on June 15, when a Plus III student was allegedly gang-raped on Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, sparking nationwide outrage. Ten men had attacked the student’s male companion before raping the girl.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)