ROURKELA: Two youths accused of gang-raping a minor girl and molesting another have been arrested by K Balang police of Rourkela police district on Friday.
Police sources said the crime had occurred on Wednesday night at a secluded forest location when the victims, accompanied by two others, were returning in a four-wheeler after watching Vishwakarma Puja at Barsuan.
A formal complaint was lodged on Thursday night and the accused were arrested by K Balang police on Friday. Police identified the accused as Anil Soren (25), a native of Emiri village under Kanjipani police of Keonjhar district and Soma Badra (30) of Barsuan which comes under Lahunipada police station in Sundargarh district.
DIG of Police (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said, “A complaint was received on Thursday evening following which the two accused persons were detained. After interrogation the accused have been arrested and they would be produced in the POCSO court at the Sundargarh district headquarter town after medical examinations.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim girls, accompanied by an adult male companion and a minor boy of K Balang area, had gone to Barsuan in a hired four-wheeler.
Bonai sub-divisional police officer RC Biswal said, “The culprits followed the vehicle while it was returning towards K Balang and intercepted it at a secluded forest location. They assaulted and terrorised the male companions before committing sexual assault on one minor girl while the other was molested at a nearby location.”
DIG (western range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said a complaint was received on Thursday night and immediately, the two accused persons were traced and detained from Barsuan. Medical examinations of the victims and accused were conducted. Rai said instruction has been issued to take stern legal actions against the culprits and ensure expeditious trial as per the new criminal laws.