Bhubaneswar: Six persons were arrested and four juveniles produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on Tuesday in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a 20-year-old woman at Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, police said.
The six accused persons were identified as Pramod Nayak (23) of Purushottampur area, Kunal Pradhan (24) of Bellagam Police limits and Baburam Dalai (19) Lakman Pradhan (24) Om Pradhan (19) and Deepak Tarai, of Hinjili police station area. All the juveniles hail from Sikiri village in Hinjili Police limits.
The prime accused, Pramod, a B.Tech drop out, currently working in an electronics factory in Bengaluru, had recently come home on leave. He was also involved in two more criminal cases in the past.
The incident occurred on Sunday night when the victim, a college student, visited the beach with her male friend, a classmate, during the Raja festival. According to police, a group of 10 men surrounded the couple at a secluded spot, restrained the man, and took turns raping the woman.
“Initially, seven suspects were detained for questioning. All 10 accused were later arrested while attempting to flee the state,” said Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M while briefing the media. He added that three of the accused took turns raping the survivor, while the others acted as lookouts.
A special investigation team has been formed. “We will move the court seeking permission to try the minors as adults, given the heinous nature of the crime,” the SP said. The survivor’s medical examination has been completed.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, said she had spoken to the SP and ordered a thorough probe. “All necessary steps will be taken to ensure justice and prevent such incidents in the future,” she said.
Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the incident as “deeply shocking.”
“The gang-rape at Gopalpur, a major tourist destination, has shaken the conscience of the state. It raises serious concerns about women’s safety in public places. The government must act decisively,” he said.
