Odisha Woman Gang-Raped by 3 Men, 1 Arrested: Latest Updates

A 31-year-old woman visiting her uncle in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was gang-raped by three men at a deserted roadside restaurant on Tuesday night. One accused has been arrested, while the others are on the run. The woman, returning from a friend’s house, was offered a ride by two men on a motorcycle. They took her to a deserted dhaba where another man joined them and they raped her, as per Karanjia police station inspector-in-charge Sarat Chandra Mahalik.

The police said her family rescued her later, and an FIR was lodged on Wednesday evening.

Recent cases of sexual violence in Odisha include a 20-year-old college student gang-raped by 10 men at Gopalpur sea beach, a 17-year-old girl gang-raped and killed in Keonjhar, and a 22-year-old student from New Delhi and her friend molested and attacked in Jajpur district. A fake homeopathic doctor in Berhampur town also sexually assaulted a minor girl.

Odisha saw an 8% increase in rape cases in 2024 compared to 2023, as per the state home department's white paper on crimes released in March.

The opposition in Odisha criticized the BJP government, with the BJD calling for an ‘All Odisha Students’ Strike’ on June 25. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi promised strict action and fast-track trials for the perpetrators.

The Congress sent a team led by Deepa Dasmunshi to investigate the rising crimes against women.