Bhubaneswar, March 30 – In a shocking development, the Bhubaneswar police arrested two individuals on Monday on charges of gang-raping a woman in the Tamando area of the city during the night of March 27 and 28.
The accused, identified as Narayana Swain (31) and Bichitra Sahoo (34), are from the Nayagarh district. According to sources, they work as private ambulance drivers in Bhubaneswar.
Police sources revealed that the victim, who hails from West Bengal, was residing with her husband—a mason—at their rented accommodation in the Chandaka area of Bhubaneswar. She was known to the prime accused, Swain.
Their acquaintance stemmed from the fact that Swain frequently visited the house of one of his close relatives, who resides in the same neighborhood as the couple in Chandaka. Swain allegedly used this familiarity to gain the victim's trust.
Sources also added that on Friday night, following an argument with her husband, the victim decided to return home to West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Swain encountered her and offered to take her to the Bhubaneswar Railway Station.
However, instead of taking her to the Railway Station, Swain reportedly took the victim to his rental accommodation in the Ranasinghpur area, under the Tamando police station limits, where he lives with his roommate, the other accused, Sahoo. The two accused allegedly subjected the victim to sexual assault.
Following the incident, they reportedly threatened her, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone, thereby attempting to silence her through intimidation and fear.
However, after being freed from their clutches, the woman lodged a complaint with the Tamando police, which launched an investigation into the matter by registering a case (102/26) on March 29.
Subsequently, the police swung into action and arrested the duo, who were produced before the court on Monday, which ordered their judicial custody.