Bhubaneswar: A 20-year-old married woman, allegedly kidnapped from Odisha’s Nabarangpur and then raped, and held captive for over 14 days, was rescued from Gangapur, about 170 km from Nagpur, in Maharashtra.
The victim is a resident of Umerkote area.
According to sources, she was allegedly abducted by one 45-year-old Basudev Kahar from Tentuliguda village on October 29 while on her way to a bank. Kahar lured her to board a bus and took her to Nagpur via Raipur. He then locked her in a house at Gangapur village, where she was repeatedly raped and forced her into immoral activities.
The woman managed to escape on November 12, when the accused left the house. She walked 5 km to a roadside dhaba, where she narrated her ordeal to the owner and later made a call to her husband. Her family then approached Congress leader Harabati Gond and social activist Kadambini Tripathi, who informed Umerkote police.
A team led by Harabati then rescued the woman with help of Umerkot police and Gangapur police.
Meanwhile, police have registered two cases and launched an investigation. Her husband, who previously reported her missing to Umerkote police, has lodged a formal complaint of kidnapping, trafficking, and sexual assault.
Sources further stated that victim is currently staying at Harabati’s house after being kept at Dabugan short-stay centre for a few days.
“We have seen or heard of a young girl being trafficked, but shockingly a married woman had to go through the ordeal after being trafficked from Nabarangpur to Maharashtra where she was locked inside a room and sexually abused for 14 days,” social activist Kadambini Tripathy told reporters.
Stating that a well-organised racket is behind such atrocious activities, she urged police to immediately arrest the accused.
