Five Arrested In Alleged Gangrape Of Bhubaneswar Woman In Cuttack
Rural SP Vineet Agrawal said the sixth accused was absconding and efforts were on to apprehend him.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Cuttack Rural Police on Thursday arrested five of the six persons accused of allegedly gangraping a young woman from Bhubaneswar after intercepting the car in which she was travelling with a male friend towards Kendrapara, police said on Thursday night.
Rural SP Vineet Agrawal said the sixth accused was absconding and efforts were on to apprehend him.
According to police, the woman and her male friend were travelling towards Kendrapara when a group of youths allegedly intercepted their car in the Nischintakoili area. The accused allegedly assaulted the woman's friend and subsequently sexually assaulted the woman inside the vehicle before fleeing after threatening the duo.
The woman later approached the local police and lodged a complaint, following which an investigation was launched.
A senior police officer of DSP rank was entrusted with the investigation and four special teams were formed to track down the accused. With the assistance of scientific and technical teams, police arrested five suspects, Agrawal said.
The woman and her male friend have undergone medical examinations as part of the investigation, police said.
Police teams are continuing raids at different locations to trace the remaining accused.
Agrawal said the investigation was being expedited and that the police would submit the chargesheet within 90 days. Steps would also be taken to ensure an early trial and strict punishment for those found guilty, he said.
“The incident was taken with utmost seriousness after it was reported to the police. A senior officer is supervising the investigation, while multiple teams have been formed. Scientific and technical assistance was used to identify and apprehend the accused,” the SP said.