In a significant development in the Gopalpur gangrape case, the survivor identified six adult accused during a Test Identification (TI) parade held at Berhampur Central Jail on Friday evening.
The process was conducted under the supervision of a judicial magistrate and in the presence of her male companion, who was also an eyewitness to the incident.
According to Crime Branch sources, permission has been sought from the court to include four arrested minors in a similar TI parade to complete the identification process.
Following the successful identification, the investigating agency is now preparing to seek remand of the accused adults for further interrogation.
The incident, which shocked Odisha, involved a 20-year-old woman allegedly gangraped by three members of a 10-member group on the Gopalpur beach late Sunday evening. The case was declared a ‘Red Flag’ incident by Odisha DGP YB Khurania, who transferred the investigation to the CID-Crime Branch.
Ten accused individuals, including four minors, were arrested by Gopalpur police. The six adult suspects, including the prime accused, were presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC)-Rural on Tuesday night and were subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The four minors were sent to juvenile correction homes.
In parallel with the TI parade, the Crime Branch is also working to confirm the exact age of the four minor accused through medical examination, following standard procedures in juvenile justice.
This development marks a crucial turn in the investigation and is expected to accelerate judicial proceedings in the high-profile case.
