TV
In the horrifying gang rape incident near Baliharachandi area under Brahmagiri police station in Puri, the forensic team is carrying out intensive investigations at the crime scene.
As per reports, the police brought the victim to the location for further inquiry on Tuesday. The victim recounted the gruesome event in detail before the police. The accused had gang-raped the victim inside the casuarina forest and fled the scene.
The main accused, identified as Kalia alias Manoj Behera, has been reportedly arrested by the police from Andhra Pradesh. Under the leadership of the Puri Sadar Police Station IIC, a special team tracked Kalia's mobile phone and apprehended him.
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Meanwhile, BJP legislator Upasna Mahapatra has confirmed that the police are actively investigating the incident. She further stated that stringent actions would be taken against the arrested accused.
Additionally, she informed that the government has been urged to set up police outposts across various tourist spots in the Brahmagiri region, including Baliharachandi, to ensure the safety of the visitors.
"As the incident has occurred at a prominent tourist place in our area, we are all saddened by the incident. Police have taken action swiftly and in the right manner. Puri SP and SDPO reached the spot. They are ensuring at the Brahmagiri police station that the accused are immediately arrested based on the report of the victim. A request to set up more police outposts in the area was made two years ago during the tenure of the previous government. However, it was not honoured. We have submitted another written request in this regard in the near past. Effort is made to ensure the safety of the visitors across various tourist spots in the Brahmagiri region, including Baliharachandi," said BJP leader Upasna Mahapatra.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik alleged that the BJP government in the state has "miserably failed" to provide a sense of security among women.
Patnaik, also the president of Biju Janata Dal, expressed his anguish and shock over the gangrape of a student near Baliharchandi temple in Puri district, about 50 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.
"The BJP administration of Odisha has failed miserably to create confidence in the system where our daughters feel safe, valued and heard -- leave aside empowerment," Patnaik said in a post on X.
On the Baliharchandi gangrape case, Patnaik said, "Every time we hear the same rehearsed statements: people's government is taking strict action, ensuring women's safety and sparing no one".
