Odisha Police on Thursday arrested four individuals in connection with the gangrape and murder of a 17-year-old tribal girl in Keonjhar district’s Pandapada village.
The harrowing incident has shaken the local community and sparked demands for swift justice.
According to officials, the girl went missing on June 16 after stepping out of her house. The next morning, villagers discovered her hanging from a tree. Initial findings, including bloodstained garments and other clues near the scene, led investigators to suspect foul play.
One of the four arrested accused was reportedly acquainted with the victim. Based on the girl’s father’s complaint and early evidence, police registered a case under Sections 70(2), 103(1), and 49 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“We are exploring all angles. The autopsy report will confirm the sequence of events,” said Laxmikant Pradhan, IIC of Pandapada Police Station.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha, with activists and citizens demanding increased protections for vulnerable communities.
