Jajpur: Three hockey trainers were formally arrested on Tuesday for gang rape of a minor player in Odisha’s Jajpur district after preliminary investigation found sufficient evidence against them.
The three trainers have been identified as Sarthaka Mohanty, Sandeep Swain and Sagar Nayak, all employed at Odisha Naval Tata Hockey Training Centre in Jajpur Town.
The three, who had been picked up questioning on Monday, were placed under arrest after preliminary investigation, Inspector In-Charge of Jajpur Town Police Station Sarat Patra said.
During preliminary investigation, police had got sufficient evidence to execute arrest. Sources said employees of the lodge where the three trainers had taken the minor girl to on July 3 had confirmed about presence of trainers and the girl.
All three hockey coaches are accused of gang-raping the sports student on July 3, police said.
As per information, the 15-year-old girl was receiving training at Jajpur hockey stadium in last two years. On July 3, when she was returning from stadium to home, three coaches allegedly picked her up from the road and gang-raped her at a lodge in Jajpur town.
The minor girl also alleged that one of the three trainers had also assaulted her sexually during camp in Rourkela in March.
Police have booked hockey trainers under 70 (2) (gang rape), 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 35 (2) (common intention to commit a crime) of BNS and section- 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Since the girl is minor police recorded her statement under Section 180 of BNSS and subsequently her statement was recorded under section 183 of BNSS before a woman magistrate in POCSO court. The investigation is on.
