In a harrowing case of sexual violence and blackmail, six individuals have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 19-year-old college student repeatedly over several days in Cuttack. The accused, including the victim’s boyfriend, filmed the crime and used the footage to threaten and coerce the woman into further abuse.
Incident Details
The victim, a commerce student, had gone to a café in Purighat, Cuttack, during the Dussehra festival to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend. According to reports, her boyfriend, with the assistance of the café owner, secretly recorded intimate moments between them.
Following the celebration, the boyfriend, along with his friends, allegedly lured the victim to a house in the Barang area, where she was gang-raped by the accused. The assailants then used the video footage to blackmail her, forcing her to engage in sexual acts multiple times over the following days.
The victim, initially too frightened to speak up, kept the traumatic experience to herself until a family member spotted her with the accused near Balikuda Square. After being confronted, the victim disclosed the entire ordeal, which led to her filing a formal complaint with the Badambadi police station on November 4, 2024.
-କଟକରେ କଲେଜ ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ଗଣଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ ଅଭିଯୋଗ; ୬ ଗିରଫ
-ବୟଫ୍ରେଣ୍ଡ ଓ ତାର ସାଙ୍ଗମାନଙ୍କ ନାଁରେ ଗଣଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ ଅଭିଯୋଗ
-ଅଶ୍ଳୀଳ ଭିଡିଓ ଉତ୍ତୋଳନ, ବ୍ଲାକମେଲିଂ କରି ଗଣଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ ଅଭିଯୋଗ
-ବାଦାମବାଡ଼ି ଥାନାରେ ଅଭିଯୋଗ ପରେ ୬ ଅଭିଯୁକ୍ତ ଗିରଫ#Cuttack #Crime pic.twitter.com/BNTkFlIfk3— ଓଟିଭି (@otvkhabar) November 7, 2024
Arrests and Investigation
The police swiftly acted on the complaint and arrested six individuals in connection with the crime. These include the victim’s boyfriend, the café owner, and four other men, three of whom are from the Jhanjarimangala area, while one is from Nayagarh and another from Barang.
Upon investigation, the police seized the mobile phones of the accused, which contained the incriminating videos. These devices have been sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) in Bhubaneswar for a thorough examination. The police also confirmed that the victim’s statements and the accused’s confessions have been recorded in court.
Role of Police and Allegations of Negligence
In a concerning development, the Congress party, through Cuttack-Barabati MLA Sofia Firdous, raised serious concerns about the handling of the victim’s complaint by local police. It was alleged that the victim had to visit three different police stations – Purighat, Sadar, and Barang – before her complaint was finally registered at the Badambadi Police Station.
#WATCH | On meeting Odisha DGP over gang-rape case in Cuttack, Congress MLA Sofia Firdous says “Such an incident has never happened in our state and especially in Cuttack. Cuttack is a densely populated area and culturally rich and if such incidents are happening in this city, it… pic.twitter.com/gYJ0iMHzjW
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2024
The MLA criticized the police for allegedly refusing to register the case initially, suggesting a systemic failure in addressing crimes against women. Firdous met with Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on November 10 to urge a full investigation into the delay in lodging the FIR.
Responding to these concerns, Cuttack’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena assured that an inquiry would be conducted into the allegations. However, he stated that neither the victim nor her family had formally raised any issues regarding the police’s initial response, and emphasized that the victim was safe.
Government’s Stance on Women’s Safety
The Odisha government has expressed its commitment to addressing crimes against women with zero tolerance. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan reaffirmed the state’s commitment to make Odisha free of such crimes by 2026.
Legal Proceedings and Further Actions
As the investigation continues, the police have made it clear that further action will be taken based on the forensic examination of the recovered mobile phones and any additional evidence that emerges. The involvement of any other individuals in the crime will be investigated, and appropriate action will be taken.
Among the arrested, five are adults, while one is a minor. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the severity of the crimes, the blackmail, and the fact that the accused filmed the assaults to exert control over the victim.
Conclusion
This shocking case has underscored the urgency of addressing crimes against women, the challenges of police accountability, and the need for timely and appropriate responses to sexual violence. The community remains hopeful that justice will prevail as the investigation moves forward and more details emerge.
As for the victim, who is currently under care and support, her safety and well-being remain the primary concern, and her case serves as a grim reminder of the dark reality faced by many young women in similar situations across the country.
Source: Odishatv.in, Sambad English, X (formerly Twitter)
