Bhubaneswar: At least three incidents of rape were reported from separate places of Odisha during Raja festival that traditionally honours womanhood.
According to information, three separate cases of sexual assaults have rocked Nabarangpur, Balangir, and Mayurbhanj districts on ‘Pahili Raja’, the first day of the three-day celebrations. The incidents triggered statewide outrage.
In Nabarangpur, a 22-year-old womanl had gone out with her friends to celebrate Raja Parba on Sunday but never returned home. Her family was worried and frantically searched for her.
Her body was discovered in the backyard of her house on Monday morning.
Family members suspect that she was raped before being strangled to death. Police have launched a thorough investigation following a complaint lodged by the family.
In another incident reported from Patnagarh area of Balangir district, a young woman had gone to meet her male friend. However, she was allegedly held captive and gangraped by him and his three friends.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the woman, police arrested the four accused, all residents of Pandamunda village, and sent them to court.
In the third incident reported from Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district, a 13-year-old girl was reportedly kidnapped by four people while she and her sister had gone out to attend nature’s call. The accused allegedly assaulted her sexually before abandoning her along a road.
The girl was later found and taken for a medical examination. Police said the results indicate severe sexual assault. Police have taken into custody four suspects and continue to investigate.
These incidents have intensified public outrage and raised urgent questions about who is responsible for the rising number of crimes against women in the state.