Woman Alleges Sexual Assault At ‘Nataala’ In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at ‘Nataala’, the nine-storey building of the Heads of Departments near the Secretariat in Odisha capital.

According to sources, the victim alleged that two employees raped her on the pretext of providing a job. A native of Sambalpur, she said that she was desperately in need of a job and the accused tried to take advantage of the situation.

After arriving at the building, the accused took her to a room and sexually abused her in an inebriated state. The woman tried to resist their advances but was threatened with terrible consequences and the only security guard present in the building also did not come to her rescue, she alleged.

The woman, however, managed to escape and informed other staff present in the building the following morning in a sub-conscious state.

The department head was notified immediately, and Capital Police was asked to take over the investigation.

The cops arrived at the spot and picked up a senior clerk of the health department and a driver who were allegedly in an inebriated condition. However, both of them were released later as the victim did not lodge any complaint.

Notably, the department has placed the accused clerk under suspension.

In the wake of the rising number of crimes, authorities of the health department said they will soon write to Commissionerate Police to heighten the security at ‘Nataala’ building, the sources added.