Parties demand immediate arrest of the rapists

Berhampur: BJP and CPI-M today demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the alleged gangrape of a 16-year-old tribal girl in a forest for ten days in Odisha's Ganjam district.

A delegation of BJP women's wing met the girl, her father and took up the matter with the Ganjam police superintendent Asish Singh.

"We urged the SP to arrest the accused persons in the next 24 hours. Otherwise we will be forced to launch an agitation," said Babita Patro, secretary of Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha.

District CPI-M secretary Kailash Sarangi said since the incident was a heinous crime and took place due to political rivalry, it should be inquired by an all party team of the state assembly.

He also demanded compensation and protection to the victim's family.

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Police said medical examination and recording of the statement of the girl before the magistrate was being done.

"We have identified the accused persons and they will be arrested soon, said sub divisional police officer (SDPO) of Chikiti, Prakash Chandra Jena.

The girl was allegedly abducted from her house and raped by five persons, including a cousin, for nine days from March 9 in a jungle near Ankuli. The victim along with her father yesterday narrated her ordeal to the SP in writing.

She also said that she did not go to the local police station out of fear and came to the SP instead to lodge her complaint.

The rape was due to political rivalry in the recent panchayat polls as her father had supported a different candidate, she had said.