Puri Gang Rape: Accused Constable Jitendra Sethi Arrested

Puri: Police today arrested prime accused Constable Jitendra Sethi in connection with the alleged gang rape of a minor girl in Puri. Three other suspects who have been detained are being interrogated, police said.

Latest reports suggest that the government quarters near Jhadeswari club where the girl was allegedly raped was allotted to Sethi. His wife also serves in the police department and is currently posted at Brahmagiri PS.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sethi was dismissed from service in February by the then SP of Puri after multiple charges of misconduct were reported against him. He however joined service after a few months, sources said.

Registering a case under relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO Act, police recorded the minor girl’s statement and later sent her for medical examination.

DIG Asish Kumar Singh said, "The prime accused is a Constable who was dismissed from service for misconduct and indiscipline behaviour. The girl had said that two persons locked the door from outside and other two raped her. Based on the allegations, four suspects have been detained. They are being interrogated. Stern action will be taken against whosoever is found involved in the case.”

Reportedly, the girl was waiting near Nimapara bus terminal to return to her home at Kakatpur in Puri district when four persons, one of them claiming to be a policeman, allegedly offered her help. Later, they allegedly abducted the girl and took her to government quarters near Jhadeswari Club and gang raped her.

Narrating her ordeal, she had alleged that while two persons locked the quarters’ door from the outside, two others raped her. “After drinking, when they fell asleep I called a person through the window and managed to escape from the spot with the wallet of one of the accused, which contains a police identity card,” she added.