Ex-policeman, another accused arrested in Puri gangrape case

Two of the four persons, including a former constable, accused of raping a minor girl in Puri town were arrested on Tuesday and the police said the case was taken up on a priority basis and chargesheet will be filed in 20 days.

The opposition BJP and Congress demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the surge in crime against women in the state, while the ruling BJD urges other parties not to politicise the "sensitive case".

Within hours of the girl lodging a complaint at Kumbharpada police station in the temple town, two persons including a dismissed police constable were arrested, Director General of Police Satyajit Mohanty said.

Four teams have been formed for conducting raids to trace the two other accused who are still at large, he said.

"We will give justice to the girl. No accused person will be spared whoever he may be," Mohanty said.

The girl was allegedly gang raped on Monday by two persons, including former policeman Jitendra Sethi, inside a police quarter that was allotted to his wife, also a constable.

"He used to be a constable of Puri Police but was dismissed in February," the DGP said.

Mohanty said the rape survivor claimed she is minor and accordingly, a case has been registered against the accused under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act besides the IPC.

"There are ways to verify the age of any person during the investigation," he said in reply to a question.

Meanwhile, DIG, Central Range, Asish Singh, who rushed to Puri after the incident was reported at Kumbahrpada police station, said, "We will seek conduct of the trial in a fast- track court. Chargesheet will be filed within 20 days as the case has been taken up on a priority basis."
Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Pradipta Kumar Naik of the BJP said, "I demand resignation of the chief minister. He has no moral right to continue. A minor girl is raped by a policeman in a police quarter. The state government has completely failed in checking such incidents."
BJD spokesperson Srimoyee Mishra, "It is a sensitive case. Please do not politicise it. The investigation is on the right track. The government will take appropriate action."