Rescue Of Missing Woman From Odisha Forest: 3 Arrested In Bargarh, Medical Report Rules Out Rape

Bargarh: Nearly a week after a missing woman was rescued in a critical condition from a forest in Odisha’s Bargarh district, three persons were arrested by the police on Monday in connection with the incident.

However, the main accused in the case was still at large and efforts are on to trace and apprehend him, police said.

The three arrested persons have been identified as Sarjan Dansana (36), Jaykrushna Dansana (40) of Bijepur area of the district and Prahlad Dash of Jagdalpur. All three were forwarded to court after being arrested.

Medical report of the 24-year-old woman, who was undergoing treatment at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla, showed that she was not sexually assaulted, VIMSAR sources said.

It may be noted that the woman who reportedly went missing on January 12, was found severely injured in a forest in Kurla within Bargarh Rural police limits on Tuesday.

The woman from Bardol within Bargarh Sadar police limits mysteriously disappeared while she was on way to visit Dhanuyatra on Sunday evening. When she did not return home in the night, family members launched a frantic search but could not trace her.

On Monday, they received a call from the woman’s mobile number and were informed by an unidentified man that she was in Kurla. Family members immediately reached Kurla but failed to find her. They later lodged a missing complaint with police.

Subsequently on Tuesday, family members were informed that she was spotted in a forest in Kurla. Accompanied by police, they reached the spot and found Sumi lying unconscious with critical injuries.

The woman was rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Bargarh and later shifted to VIMSAR, Burla as her condition did not improve.

Police sources had said there were speculations about the woman being raped. However, sexual assault was yet to be ascertained. Now, the medical report has ruled out sexual assault.