Puri: The two accused in the gang rape of a 19-year-old college student allegedly extorted Rs 2,500 from her 20-year-old male friend by holding him hostage during the assault near the sacred Baliharachandi temple in Puri district on Saturday, city police revealed on Tuesday.
The duo, Siba Sahoo and Manoj Sahoo, were arrested on Monday after the survivor lodged a formal complaint two days following the horrific incident in a secluded forest area near the temple, approximately 3-4 km from Siba’s betel shop.
Police investigations revealed that the accused had trailed the couple, confronted them unexpectedly, and began filming them. When the friend protested, they assaulted him, overpowered him, and proceeded to rape the woman in his presence.
“The accused forced the victim’s friend to pay Rs 2,500 through extortion, with Rs 500 paid in cash and the remaining balance transferred via UPI. We have recovered digital evidence confirming the transaction,” a senior police official told reporters.
Siba, a betel shop owner near the temple, shockingly returned to his business routine immediately after the crime, displaying a chilling lack of remorse. Manoj, an autorickshaw driver, initially evaded capture but was arrested near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border late Monday night.
The survivor, unfamiliar with the perpetrators, identified Siba later at his shop.
“As the couple made their way back from the crime scene, they spotted Siba at his betel shop and raised an alarm. Locals quickly gathered and alerted the police, leading to his detention that Saturday evening,” a police officer recounted.
Adding to the ordeal, Siba’s brother was also taken into custody for assaulting the survivor and her friend during the confrontation at the shop.
“He intervened aggressively when the woman challenged Siba, attacking both the survivor and her companion. Though uninvolved in the rape itself, he now faces separate charges for assault,” the senior official added.
