A very chilling incident has come to light from Keonjhar, Odisha. The body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered hanging from a tree in Keonjhar district. The teen had gone missing from her home since the night of 16 June. Following the discovery of the body her family suspects she was gang-raped and murdered.

This is because of the condition of the body and the brutality behind hanging it on a tree. Police have registered a case of gang rape and murder. Two two individuals have been detained by the police in connection with the incident. The gruesome incident has sparked tension in the Harichandanpur area.

Sequence of the events

The 17-year-old minor disappeared on Monday night. Reports suggest the girl left home to relieve herself, and her mobile phone was subsequently switched off. The next morning, her blood-stained body was found hanging from a tree near her village. The dead body of the minor was hanged by a rope with blood dripping down her body.

The family and the locals immediately informed the police about the incident. Upon reaching on the crime scene the authorities recovered blood-stained male clothing and other items from the scene. The crime findings at the crime scene strengthened the family’s suspicion of rape and murder.

Father launches Police complaint

According to reports, the girl’s father filed a police complaint. He explicitly alleged that his daughter was gang-raped, killed. He further said, that her body was hanged by the accused to stage a suicide.

Following a day-long protest by villagers, primarily women, police officially registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sections include 70(2) (gang rape) and 103(1) (murder), as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Family refuses to accept the body

Laxmikant Pradhan, the Inspector-in-Charge of Pandapada police station, confirmed that two people have been detained in connection with the case. “The suspect’s mobile phone and clothing were seized from near the crime scene. We are investigating the incident from all angles. The autopsy will reveal whether it was a case of gang rape,” Pradhan stated.

Initially, the family refused to accept the body and, joined by villagers, blocked the Naduroada-Kaliahaat Road. They only relented and lifted the blockade after police confirmed the detention of the two suspects.

Opposition condemns BJP

The incident has drawn condemnation from both the opposition Congress and the BJD. Both parties have criticized BJP and  Chief Minister Mohan Charan Maji, particularly as he hails from Keonjhar district. Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu, the party in-charge of Odisha, remarked, “The CM is in charge of the home department and a minor girl is raped in his native district. This is condemnable.”

A BJD delegation, led by former minister and MLA Badrinarayan Patra, visited the girl’s family The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the Keonjhar Superintendent of Police, demanding immediate arrests and stringent action against the culprits.

Similar incidents in Odisha

This tragic event follows closely on the heels of another gang rape case involving a 20-year-old woman at Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, an incident that had previously ignited nationwide outrage.

Keonjhar Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sudarsan Gangoi stated that a case has been registered and the probe has begun, adding that more details about the cause of death would be known after the post-mortem.