Tribal Women Assault In Odisha: 4 Arrested So Far; NCW Seeks Report

Balasore: A total of four men have been arrested so far for allegedly tying two tribal women to a tree and assaulting them in full public view at a village in Remuna area of Odisha’s Balasore district, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Briefing the media about the police action in the case, DIGP Eastern Range, Dr Satyajit Naik said while three persons were arrested in connection with the incident on December 29, another accused was nabbed on Monday night.

All the four accused persons have been forwarded to court and sent to jail, he said. Prime accused Badal Panda was also among those arrested by the police.

The action was taken by the police after a purported video of the incident that took place recently went viral on social media.

The video showed an angry mob abusing the two women, accusing them of carrying out forced religious conversions in Remuna and Nilagiri areas of Balasore district on December 26.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the incident and directed the state DGP to ensure a fair, time-bound investigation and ensure peace and law and order. A detailed action taken report must be submitted to the Commission within three days, it said.

Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said two cases were registered in connection with the incident. Those who tied the women to the tree were booked under relevant sections of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and BNS.

Another case was registered against the two women under Section 4 of the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, and sections 299 (deliberate and malicious insult of a religion), 3(5) (joint criminal liability), and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS. The case was registered following a complaint by some locals that the two women were attempting forced religious conversion in the area, he said.

DIG Naik said that Police had swung into action after getting information about the incident and rescued the two women. “We are taking stringent action and all necessary steps to ensure that there is no law and order situation in the area,” he said.

Notably, several Congress leaders including former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik had condemned the incident and accused the police of trying to shield the culprits.

The incident triggered outrage in Balasore and other areas of the state and locals demanded the immediate arrest of others involved in the case.