Police arrested the prime accused in the Dhauli minor gangrape case and recreated the crime scene to establish the sequence of events.
Officials confirmed that the accused, identified as Satya Prakash Hati alias Joker Happy, was apprehended from Ganjam.
Senior officers stated that Joker Happy has multiple cases registered against him and is a habitual offender. He had recently come out on bail and allegedly committed the gangrape of the minor. After his arrest, police took him to the crime scene, where he demonstrated how the incident unfolded.
The crime occurred on December 10 near the Daya River embankment in Bhubaneswar. The victim, a minor girl, was returning home with her male friend when the accused intercepted their vehicle and demanded money. When they refused, the attackers assaulted both, abducted them, and took them to the riverbank, where the gangrape took place.
Police registered the case at Dhauli police station on December 11 and arrested two accused earlier—Bibhuti Prasad Mishra (32) of Banki, Cuttack, and Kalandi Patra (31) of Olatpur, Cuttack. However, the prime accused Joker Happy remained absconding until his arrest this week.
The incident drew strong reactions from the Child and Women’s Commissions. On December 16, commission members visited Dhauli police station, met officers, and directed strict action. They also visited the crime spot, met the survivor, and provided counselling. The Women’s Commission conducted a scientific investigation at the site with its team.
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