Seventh Case of Sexual Assault in Odisha in Under 20 Days: Concerns Over Women's Safety and Law and Order

A string of gruesome sexual assault cases in Odisha has left the community in a state of terror. The latest incident involves a woman who was allegedly gang-raped by two men while grazing her goats in Bhalukhai forest. This brings the total number of such cases in less than 20 days to seven, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of women in the state. The police have arrested both accused men, but locals claim they were known to the survivor, sparking questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing such crimes.

Key Takeaways:

• The latest incident involved a woman who was allegedly gang-raped by two men, Bhajaman Bhoi and Sunanda Pihu, while grazing her goats in Bhalukhai forest.
• Both accused men were arrested hours after the incident based on a complaint filed by the survivor.
• The survivor has accused the two men of gang-raping her near Bhalumara forest while she was on her way to graze goats.
• Since mid-June, several cases of rapes and gang-rapes have been reported across the state, including a Class 7 student allegedly raped by a distant relative in Ganjam district on June 28, and a 17-year-old girl allegedly raped by a clinic owner in Ganjam district on June 25.
• A young woman was allegedly gang-raped while returning home from a local temple in Mayurbhanj district, and a 31-year-old woman was allegedly raped by four men in Mayurbhanj district on June 19.
• In a separate case, the body of a 17-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree in a paddy field near her house in Keonjhar district, with police confirming the body bore injury marks.
• The latest incident mark the seventh case of sexual assault in less than 20 days in the state, raising concerns over women's safety and law and order in Odisha.

Statistics:

• 7 cases of sexual assault in less than 20 days in Odisha, including 3 cases of gang-rapes and 4 cases of individual rapes.
• 3 cases reported in Ganjam district, including a Class 7 student allegedly raped by a distant relative on June 28.
• 2 cases reported in Mayurbhanj district, including a 31-year-old woman allegedly raped by four men on June 19.
• 1 case reported in Keonjhar district, involving the hanging body of a 17-year-old girl from a tree in a paddy field.
• All cases reported to the police, with 4 accused men arrested, including Bhajaman Bhoi and Sunanda Pihu in the latest incident.

Sources:

• Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd.
• Contify.com