Four arrested in Dhenkanal rape, murder case

Dhenkanal: Police today arrested four accused in connection with the gang rape and murder of a woman at Balikuma village under Kankadahada police limits in Dhenkanal district.

The four arrested include prime accused Hari Patra, who is the son-in-law of the deceased. According to preliminary investigation, the four had allegedly killed the woman, who has lost her husband, after raping her over suspected past enmity.

Talking to media persons, Dhenkanal SP BK Panigrahi said, "After investigation we found involvement of four accused in the incident. Hari Patra and Raghu Lohar had entered the house of the woman and had raped her while other two persons, Ananda Patra and Sudarshan Lohar, were on watch outside the house. They murdered her later on. Currently, we have arrested the four accused and will forward them to court after medical checkup."

Meanwhile, the incident is being politicized by Opposition Congress and BJP. A team of the saffron party today visited the spot for an inquiry. On Wednesday, a Congress team including Mahila Congress state president Sasmita Behera and national general secretary Sonali Sahu visited the place and condemned the incident.

They also questioned as to why only murder case and no rape case has been registered by the police in this incident.