Ten held for gangrape at Odisha beach

Bhubaneswar

In a chilling incident that has triggered widespread outrage, ten individuals—including four minors—have been arrested for allegedly gangraping a 20-year-old college student at Gopalpur beach in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The crime occurred on June 15, when the victim, a degree student from a private college, was visiting the beach with her boyfriend to celebrate ‘Raj Parba’, a local festival. The couple was at a secluded stretch near the shore when the group of accused reportedly ambushed them. The assailants restrained the victim’s boyfriend and then took turns raping her, police said.

The survivor filed a complaint at Gopalpur police station soon after the attack. Ganjam SP Shravan Vivek M. confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case thoroughly. He added that the accused had attempted to flee Odisha but were intercepted and taken into custody before escaping the state.

Political leaders and rights bodies swiftly reacted to the incident. Odisha’s Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, called the crime “deeply shocking” and questioned the state’s ability to ensure women’s safety. The National Commission for Women (NCW) also took suo motu cognizance and instructed local authorities to take immediate action. The brutal assault has reignited concerns about women’s safety in public spaces and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in deterring such crimes. Many activists and citizens have called for swift justice and stronger preventive measures to address the growing threat to women’s security in the state.