Another Pharmacy Student Arrested In ‘Gang-Rape’ Of 17-Yr-Old In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: Another pharmacy student has been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in Odisha’s Berhampur on May 3.

The accused has been identified as Omkar Jena (21) of Bhutasarasing village under Purusottampur police limits. He was staying in a rented accommodation in Berhampur and pursuing D Pharm course. He had fled the place the same night.

With this, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 6.

According to sources, Baidyanathpur police traced Omkar to Bargarh district by tracking his mobile phone and nabbed him from Luhurachati under Sohela police limits. He was brought to Berhampur and forwarded to court on Saturday.

Police said some more are likely to be arrested in connection with the gang-rape.

On May 8, police had informed about having arrested five engineering and pharmacy students, who had allegedly raped the Class XII girl student of a private college after spiking her drink, on basis of a complaint lodged by the survivor on May 5.

The incident took place under Baidyanathpur police limits after one of the accused, who was an acquaintance of the girl, took her to his house at Bramhanagar 2nd lane, which was a mess for bachelors, upon finding her waiting on the road for her father to pick her up. After offering her a sedative-laced drink, the accused took turns to rape her till 10 in the night and later dropped her at Bijipur.

All the five accused are students – two engineering, as many BCA and one pharmacy – and in the age group of 19-26 years.

Informing that cases under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act have been registered against the accused, Berhampur SP Sarthak Sarangi had then said that a manhunt has been launched to nab another absconding accused.

A day later, Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha, however, staged a sit-in outside the SP office, alleging that police had let go some leaders of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, the student wing of the BJD, who were involved in the incident amid reports that 8 persons were initially detained in connection with the case and sent for medical examination.

They called off the stir after the SP assured that none will be spared and stern action will be taken against those involved in the incident.