SALEPUR: A 60-year-old destitute woman of Talapatapur village under Damapada block was allegedly gang-raped by four persons at Banki on Wednesday night. While three persons have been arrested, another accused is at large. Those arrested are Ratnakar Sahu (30) of Dhiansara, Subas Behera (40) of Bankigada and Suresh Rana (41) of Charchika Mandirasahi.
Police said the woman, after being deserted by her husband, in-laws and parents, was staying at a mutt in Puri for the last few years. She had come to Banki on Wednesday to meet her children, who stay at her in-laws’ house. After meeting them, she came to Banki Bazaar to catch a bus to Puri. However by then, the last bus to Puri had left. She slept on the verandah of a shop to catch a bus in the morning. At around 12 pm, four persons came in a car and took her forcefully to an isolated place near Sunadeimundia where they allegedly raped her. Two home guards, who were on duty at Banki Bazaar, saw the four persons taking the woman and informed the local police station. Banki police station IIC Niranjan Padhi rushed to the spot and rescued the woman.