A woman was allegedly gang-raped by two men near Bhalukhai forest in Jajpur district on Tuesday while she was out grazing goats.
The local police have arrested the two accused—Bhajaman Bhoi and Sunanda Pihu—both residents of the same locality.
According to police sources, the survivor had ventured into the forest under the Bairi police station limits when she was allegedly ambushed and sexually assaulted by the duo. Acting promptly on her complaint, the Bairi police initiated an investigation and sent her for medical examination as per protocol.
“The survivor has named Bhajaman Bhoi and Sananda Pihu in her complaint. Based on her statement, we immediately conducted a raid and apprehended the accused,” said Inspector-in-Charge Ansumala Das.
Although the motive behind the crime remains unclear, preliminary findings indicate that the survivor and the accused may have known each other. The brutality of the act, however, has triggered widespread outrage and fear in the region.
As the investigation progresses, the police have assured that stringent action will be taken. The case also brings renewed attention to issues of safety in rural and forested regions of Odisha, especially for women engaged in daily subsistence activities.
