BHUBANESWAR: In a major breakthrough, the Commissionerate Police on Thursday arrested the prime accused in the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in Dhauli a week ago. The cops also recreated the crime scene to gather further evidence on the case.
The accused, Happy Bhoi was apprehended from Ganjam district by a joint team of special squad and Dhauli police. The cops also recovered the silver chain that the accused had allegedly stolen from the victim’s cousin on the day of the incident on December 10.
“Bhoi has been forwarded to court following his arrest. The investigation officer has also requested his TI parade,” said DCP Jagmohan Meena.
A history-sheeter, Bhoi has over 28 cases registered against him in different police stations across the state capital. “He had been arrested by the police on multiple occasions in the past,” the DCP said.
To verify the sequence of events and gather crucial evidence related to the sensitive case, police staged reconstruction of the incident at the crime site near Dhauli hills. “The crime scene was recreated as per the statement of the key accused. Further investigation is in progress,” said a senior police official.
As per the complaint lodged with police, the minor girl and her cousin were intercepted by the four accused near Lingipur canal road at around 6.30 pm while they were coming back from Dhauli on the fateful evening. The anti-socials allegedly forcibly took away their scooter’s key and demanded over `50,000 from them.
When they expressed their inability to pay the sum, the accused allegedly overpowered them and dragged the girl into a nearby forest where she was subjected to sexual assault for around three hours. Her cousin was also assaulted and robbed of his valuables. The accused had also allegedly captured the video of the physical assault and threatened the victim of making it viral if she revealed the incident to anyone.
The Crime Branch has already tagged it as a Red Flag case. Following Happy’s arrest, the total number of arrests made in connection with the case has gone up to three. Earlier, two other accused Bibhu Mishra and Kalia Patra have been apprehended in this connection.
Police said another associate of Happy is on run and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.