A chilling account of a brutal gang rape on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar has emerged from a 17-year-old survivor, who along with his female friend endured three hours of torture and sexual violence. The incident, which occurred on December 10, saw the assailants not only physically assault the teenagers but also film the horrific act to blackmail them.
The Harrowing Three-Hour Assault
According to the boy's statement to the authorities, the ordeal began around 6:30 pm as the two teenagers were returning home on a motorcycle. They were chased and intercepted by two men on another bike on a canal road. The attackers immediately snatched the bike key and began molesting the girl while demanding money and searching their belongings.
"When they found no cash with us, they took my gold ring and her silver ring," the boy recounted. The violence then escalated severely. The boy was beaten, dragged aside, and held hostage by one attacker while the other sexually assaulted the girl. The assailants allegedly took turns to rape her, subjecting both victims to continuous brutal violence until 9:30 pm.
"They kicked and punched me repeatedly, leaving me seriously injured. The girl was also beaten. We begged for mercy, but they did not stop. Their torture continued for three hours," the survivor stated.
Filmed for Blackmail and Initial Police Complaint
Adding a layer of psychological terror, one of the accused filmed the sexual assault. The perpetrators threatened to circulate the video on social media if the victims dared to approach the police. "I fear that they might circulate the video. Police should take action," the boy expressed with apprehension.
Initially, the girl's mother lodged a complaint on December 11, reporting only a case of robbery. She alleged that two unidentified men had assaulted her daughter and her friend before stealing 20 grams of gold and 5 grams of silver. Based on this, police registered a robbery case, as confirmed by DCP Jagmohan Meena.
It was only on December 13 that the survivor and her mother disclosed the full, horrific details of the sexual assault. This revelation led the police to add charges of gang rape against the accused, transforming the nature of the investigation.
Police Action and Official Response
The police have acted swiftly following the disclosure. DCP Jagmohan Meena stated, "We have arrested two men directly involved in the sexual violence. However, we suspect two or three others may have assisted them." The investigation is ongoing to nab all accomplices.
The crime has drawn serious attention from state authorities. A team from the State Commission for Women (SCW) visited the crime scene on Tuesday to discuss the investigation's progress with the police. Urmila Mohapatra, an SCW member, emphasized the government's stance, saying, "The govt has taken a serious note of the crime and directed police to arrest all those involved. The survivor is recuperating."
The case highlights a severe law and order challenge in the Odisha capital and has sparked demands for stringent action and justice for the young victims.
