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New Indian Express
21-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Odisha's Gopalpur gangrape victim identifies six accused during test identification parade
BERHAMPUR: The victim of the Gopalpur gangrape has reportedly identified six adult accused during the test identification (TI) parade held on Friday evening by the Crime Against Women and Children's Wing (CAW&CW) of the Odisha Crime Branch. The TI parade took place at Circle Jail under the supervision of a magistrate and in the presence of the survivor's male friend, who is now a witness. Following this, the Crime Branch is expected to arrange a TI parade for the juveniles currently lodged at the correctional home in Berhampur.


New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha Crime Branch begins probe into Gopalpur gangrape; Priyanka Gandhi slams state govt
BHUBANESWAR /BERHAMPUR: The Crime Against Women and Children's Wing (CAW&CW) of Odisha Crime Branch began probe into the gangrape of the 20-year-old student on Gopalpur beach even as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday lit into the state government accusing it of failing to prioritise women's safety. In a strongly worded post on X on Wednesday, Priyanka said the incident highlighted the growing violence against women in Odisha. 'The brutal assault on a girl student by ten individuals in Gopalpur, Odisha, is a heinous crime that warrants strong condemnation. Harshest words are not enough to condemn the brutality meted out to the girl. The incident highlights the growing violence against women in Odisha,' said the post. While the horrific crime grabbed national attention, the CAW&CW team, led by IG S Shyni, visited the crime scene and examined a radius of 300 metre. It also met the survivor who is now being provided psychosocial support. Sources said, the Crime Branch is looking to fast-track the investigation and submit the chargesheet at the earliest. During probe, it was found that the stretch of the beach where the crime took place on Sunday has seating areas for tourists but does not have illumination. The CAW&CW team also enquired how the rape survivor and her friend reached the beach. It has come to light that around 8 pm on Sunday, Gopalpur police with all-terrain vehicle was patrolling and even passed the crime spot. Seeing the vehicle, the accused apparently gagged the victim and her male friend and waited till the patrol went away. The rape survivor apparently mentioned this in her statement. Though the team refused to divulge any detail about the ongoing probe, sources said, it examined the mobile phone to which the male friend of the rape survivor paid Rs 1,000 using PhonePe. The accused had apparently extorted money from the duo and it was the phone number which helped the police to trace the accused within hours of the incident.


New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- New Indian Express
CB wing to probe crime; CM Mohan Charan Majhi assures exemplary action
BERHAMPUR/BHUBANESWAR: A day after the horrific gangrape of the 20-year-old student on Gopalpur beach rocked the state, the state government on Tuesday ordered a probe by the Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW) of the Crime Branch. This came hours after Berhampur police arrested all 10 accused which included four juveniles. Terming the incident a crime against humanity, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said exemplary action would be taken against the perpetrators while National Commission for Women sought a detailed report on the incident. Director general of police YB Khurania issued an order stating the CAW&CW has taken over probe which has been tagged a Red Flag case. Investigation would be conducted under direct supervision of IG S Shyni. The brutal crime took place on Sunday evening when the Plus III student and her male friend had gone to the beach at Gopalpur to celebrate Raja festival. The prime accused were identified as Pramod Nayak, Baburam Dalei and Kunal Pradhan who committed the heinous crime while seven others, including four juveniles, overpowered the victim and her classmate. Police said, 23-year-old Pramod, a native of Hiundata village under Purushottampur police limits, had returned home for Raja from Bengaluru where he works in an electronics factory. On Sunday, he called friends Baburam and Lakhman Pradhan (24) to join him on his bike trip to Gopalpur. Baburam and Lakhman are cousins and live in Burupada village under Hinjili police limits. On their way, the trio was joined by Om Pradhan and Deepak Tarai and three juveniles aged 17 years from Sikiri village. The eight then had company of Kunal and another minor who belonged to Pratappur village under Bellagam police station. The group of 10 rode three bikes and reached Gopalpur at around 3.30 pm where they bathed in the sea and headed to a stretch of the beach behind Panthanivas. At around 6.30 pm, the victim and her male friend reached the same location. During medical examination, the victim confirmed that Pramod, Baburam and Kunal sexually assaulted her. Police said, the survivor's condition is stable and statements of the victim as well as the accused have been recorded, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said.