JAJPUR/KENDRAPARA: Town police on Monday detained four hockey trainers for allegedly gang-raping a 15-year-old girl in Jajpur.
The incident took place on July 3 evening and came to light after the survivor filed an FIR in Jajpur Town police station on Sunday night.
In her complaint, the girl said she was receiving training at Jajpur hockey stadium in the district headquarters town for the past two years. On July 3 evening, she was returning home after completing her training when coaches Sarthak Mohanty, Sandip Swain and Sagar Nayak allegedly abducted her. They took her to a lodge and sexually assaulted her by taking turns. The accused also reportedly threatened to kill the girl if she revealed the incident to anyone, stated the complaint.
The girl’s mother alleged that one of the hockey coaches was harassing her daughter both physically and mentally for the past six months. “We had informed the local sports authorities about the matter. The authorities assured us to take it up with the internal complaints committee. However, no action was taken,” she claimed.
Jajpur Town IIC Sarat Patra said basing on the complaint, police registered a case under sections 70 (2), 35 (2) and 74 of BNS and section 6 of the POCSO Act. Police have detained four hockey trainers and are interrogating them. The minor girl was produced in court on the day. The court recorded her statements under section 183 of BNS and legal proceedings are underway, he said.
Jajpur SP Yashpratap Shrimal said four suspects have been detained in connection with the incident. Further action will be taken on basis of the statements of the accused.
Notably, the Sports department had constructed the hockey stadium in Jajpur town at a cost of Rs 15 crore in 2023. The stadium has a capacity of 2,500 people. Many local boys and girls are being imparted hockey training by coaches at the stadium.