The Commissionerate Police on Saturday neutralised and captured the accused involved in the gunpoint sexual assault of a 26-year-old software engineer in the Nayapalli area.
The arrest came after a tense three-day game of hide-and-seek, culminating in a police encounter in the forested patch of Chandaka.
The accused, who sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the exchange of fire, was immediately rushed to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment. Following his admission, the hospital complex was turned into a fortress with heavy police deployment to maintain strict security.
Fired at Cops with the Same Weapon
According to police sources, the suspect had been hiding in the Chandaka area following the crime. Acting on intelligence inputs, police teams zeroed in on his hideout. Attempting to evade arrest, the accused pulled out the same firearm he had used to threaten the victim in Nayapalli and fired two rounds directly at the police personnel.
In self-defence, the police team returned fire, striking the accused in the leg and immobilising him on the spot.
Senior officers of the Commissionerate Police stationed at Capital Hospital confirmed that the injured accused is receiving medical care and his condition is stable. “A complete investigation will be wrapped up soon, after which the Police Commissioner and DCP will brief the public with full details,” a senior officer stated.
The Terrifying Nayapalli Incident
The incident, which sent shockwaves across the capital city, took place on Wednesday night inside a rented accommodation in Nayapalli. The victim, a 26-year-old engineer working at a private firm, was alone in her flat as her elder sister was out. A masked intruder knocked on the door, barged in at gunpoint, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene. The victim had reported that she could not identify the assailant.
Promptly launching an investigation, the police formed four special teams and scanned hundreds of CCTV cameras in and around the locality to trace the suspect’s escape route. Investigations revealed that after committing the crime, the culprit fled using a combination of a bus, an auto-rickshaw, and a stolen motorcycle.
State Women’s Commission Steps In
The horrifying incident raised serious concerns regarding women’s safety in the capital city. Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the Odisha State Commission for Women (SCW) directed the Bhubaneswar DCP to submit a comprehensive report within 15 days. SCW members visited the Nayapalli police station to review progress with the investigating officer and assured the victim of prompt justice.
Police officials emphasised that once the accused is declared medically fit by doctors at Capital Hospital, he will be interrogated further to uncover the complete sequence of events and recover all evidence related to the case.
