Dalit student gang-raped on Puri beach: Three accused arrested, search continues for fourth, questions raised on state government
They demanded money in exchange for deleting photos and videos, and when they refused, they resorted to brutality. Police arrested the main accused at the Andhra border, and the opposition questioned the government.
Published on: Sep 16, 2025, 5:00 pm
Bhubaneswar: The gang rape of a Dalit college student near the Puri beach in Odisha has shocked the entire state. Police have arrested three accused in the heinous crime, while a search is on for another suspect.
What is the whole matter?
Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh stated on Tuesday that the shameful incident occurred on Saturday afternoon. The 19-year-old victim was sitting with her male friend in a casuarina forest near the Baliharchandi temple. A group of young men arrived and took photos and videos of the two. The accused then demanded money in exchange for deleting the photos and videos.
When the victim refused to pay, two of the men in the group raped her. Meanwhile, the other accused assaulted her friend and tied him to a tree.
police action
The incident occurred on Saturday, but a complaint was filed at the Puri Sadar police station on Monday evening. Police immediately responded to the complaint. Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said that three people have been arrested so far, and a search is underway to apprehend the fourth accused.
The arrested accused include Siba Sahu and Manoj Sahu alias Kalia, who are accused of rape. “Kalia was caught from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border,” the SP said.
He further said, “Both the main accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A third person has been detained for assaulting the victim and her friend. A search is on for the fourth person, who assaulted the victim.”
Politics heated up over the incident
The incident has also heated up state politics. Sanjay Das Burma, a former MLA from the area and a senior BJD leader, has strongly criticized the BJP-led state government. He said the government should ensure proper security at the Baliharchandi temple and its surrounding area, as it is a popular tourist destination.
Puri is a world-renowned tourist and pilgrimage destination, attracting millions of devotees annually to visit the 12th-century Jagannath Temple. The famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath also takes place here.
