MMS Sparks Rally for Curb on Cyber Crime

Members of socio-cultural organisations have appealed to Sambalpur District Bar Association not to take up defence of accused in the case

SAMBALPUR: The MMS incident, which sent shockwave in Sambalpur town, led the residents to demand stern action against the accused on Tuesday.

While socio-cultural organisations have appealed to the Sambalpur District Bar Association not to take up defence of the accused, locals staged a demonstration in front of office of SP on Tuesday protesting the incident. They demanded an improved security system for girls and a check on cyber crime besides fast trial of the case.

The incident, which had taken place in July, came to light after the obscene video went viral. Sambalpur police on Sunday arrested six youths for their involvement in sexual assault of a college girl and circulating video recording of the act.

The arrested are Muna Oram (19) of Maharupada, Amir Pradhan (19), Prashanta Dansena (34) both of Pandripali, Ranjan Oram (21) of Jatupada, Sunil Mirdha (22) of Jamadarpali besides autorickshaw driver Jaimangal Pradhan of Pandripali, all under Sason police limits. Another accomplice in the crime is still at large.

On the illfated day, the girl had gone out with a friend to Jamadarpali on the outskirts of Sambalpur town. They took an auto-rickshaw from Ainthapali Chowk and alighted at Jamadarpali.

While they were at a desolate place, the accused reached the spot and Ranjan overpowered the victim’s friend. Later, others forcibly took the girl to nearby Gaikhai forest and sexually assaulted her. They also recorded the act in a mobile phone. When the victim raised an alarm, locals rushed to the spot and the miscreants fled. The locals arranged a vehicle and sent the victim and her friend back to Sambalpur.

Initially, the girl did not tell her family about the incident but narrated her ordeal to her parents after Prashanta Dansena tried to blackmail her.

On Monday, Bajrang Dal members took out a campaign and urged girl students not to cover their faces while going to college and moving in markets. They submitted a memorandum demanding stern action against the culprits and patrolling in secluded spots to prevent recurrence of such incident.

A joint meeting of students of GM College, Sambalpur University, LR Law College, NSCB College and Government Women’s College was held on Monday where the matter was discussed. The students met Sadar SDPO Utkal Keshari Das and demanded opening of a cyber crime cell and helpline phone number for women in distress.

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