A very distressing incident has sent shockwaves across Odisha after a beach outing for college friends turned tragic. A 20-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped at Gopalpur beach. The incident occurred in Ganjam district on Sunday evening.

The horrific incident reportedly unfolded in front of her male friend. The male friend of the victim was restrained by the attackers. Following the incident the duo filed a police complaint at the nearest police station. Authorities have moved swiftly, detaining eight individuals in connection with the case. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to apprehend any remaining culprits.

What happened?

According to reports, the victim is an undergraduate student from a nearby district residing in Berhampur. She visited the popular tourist spot with a male classmate to celebrate the Raja festival. The pair was at a secluded part of the beach when they were confronted by a group of approximately 10 men, who arrived on three motorcycles.

According to the complaint filed by the survivor, the group initially began taking photographs of the couple and threatened to leak them online. They then allegedly overpowered the male friend, tied his hands, and dragged him away. The men then forcibly took the woman to a nearby abandoned house. There, three of the assailants reportedly took turns to rape her.

Survivor files police complaint

According to reports, the survivor and her friend somehow managed to reach the Gopalpur police station. They filed a complaint at Gopalpur police station on Monday to report the incident. A case was immediately registered under Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which specifically addresses the offense of gang-rape.

“So far, eight people have been detained in connection with the case. The accused are all adults and are being interrogated. We are not ruling out the involvement of others,” Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M told reporters. “Medical examinations of the survivor and all suspects are being conducted. The survivor’s condition is stable,” he added.

Special team deployed

Police have established a special team to expedite the inquiry and ensure that all individuals responsible for the heinous crime are brought to justice. Preliminary police reports suggest that the accused are not local residents and had traveled to the beach specifically for the Raja festival.

“The victim is a college student from a nearby district and had been staying at a private mess in Berhampur. She went to the beach with a male friend, who is also her classmate. Both of them sat at an isolated place on the beach. A group of 10 people, who were also sitting on the beach, approached the couple,” said a senior police officer.

This incident has reignited concerns about the safety of individuals, particularly women, in public spaces and tourist destinations. Meanwhile, a recent white paper on crimes released by the state home department, indicated an 8% rise in rape cases in Odisha in 2024 compared to the previous year.

This further underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and increased vigilance. Authorities have assured that the investigation is proceeding rigorously, with a commitment to a thorough and swift resolution.