Bhubaneswar: A couple in their 50s have been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of their 24-year-old niece, a crime that began when she was a minor, in Odisha capital.
The arrests were made by the Nayapalli Police on Wednesday following a formal complaint lodged by the survivor. The accused has been identified as Jayakrushna Nayak, a resident of Nuasahi in the Nayapalli area. His wife, Phulan Nandini Nayak, was also taken into custody for abetting and concealing the crime.
According to sources, the survivor a native of Kandhamal district, had moved to Bhubaneswar to pursue her higher education. She was residing with her maternal aunt (Mausi) and uncle (Mausa) at their residence at Rajdhani Apartment complex under Nayapalli police limits.
Police officials stated that the uncle took advantage of the living arrangement to subject the girl to repeated sexual exploitation, beginning when she was just 16 years old. When she informed her aunt about the ordeal, instead of protecting her, Phulani reportedly pressured and silenced the minor.
“The girl’s aunt compelled her to comply with the accused’s demands, threatening that she would only be allowed to continue her studies if she remained silent,” a police officer privy to the investigation stated.
The woman lodged a formal complaint on Tuesday, detailing her trauma, after the couple allegedly circulated her private photos and videos online.
