Bhubaneswar, 18 June (H.S.): In response to the brutal gang rape of a 20-year-old college student at Gopalpur beach, Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena visited the crime site on Wednesday, accompanied by senior officials, including Berhampur SP Dr. Saravana Vivek M and Sub-Collector Dheena Dastageer. The minister’s visit aimed to assess the situation on the ground and ensure stringent action against the perpetrators.
The survivor and her male companion were reportedly sitting in a secluded stretch of the beach when they were attacked by a group of 10 men. The male friend was tied up, and the woman was gang raped. Within 24 hours, police apprehended all 10 accused, including four minors.
Expressing grave concern, Minister Jena condemned the heinous act and criticized the previous administration’s decision to construct beachside cabins, which he alleged were being misused for unlawful activities. He instructed the district administration to immediately demolish the unauthorized structures. “This is beyond politics. Ensuring public safety is the government’s top priority,” he said.
The Odisha Crime Branch has taken over the investigation, treating the incident as a red flag case, with an IG-rank officer leading the probe. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered the strictest legal action against the accused, underlining the state’s zero-tolerance approach to crimes against women.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
