Six arrested for molesting girl in Odisha's Bargarh

BHUBANESWAR: Six persons were arrested today in connection with molestation of a girl on a road last month and video recording of the incident in Odisha's Bargarh district that went viral in social media.

Though the incident took place on October 4, this year near Khaira dam in Paikmal area, the video went viral on social media and also appeared in television channels yesterday, prompting the police to take the matter seriously, a police officer said.

As per the direction of Director General of Police R P Sharma and Bargarh SP, police registered a case suo motu and formed two special squads to nab the accused, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Padampur), L N Panda said.

The DGP said all SPs and police stations have already been directed to take stern action against persons involved in such cases.

The six arrested persons included four prime accused, identified as Hotasan Hati (24), Ajit barik (28), Jayaprakash Bhoi (31) and Umakanta Bhoi (39), the SDPO said adding their two associates were also arrested. They were Sahil Barik (18) and Niroj Barik (38), police said.

In the viral video, the girl student in college uniform was seen pleading before a group of youths to allow her to leave. However, the youths who had covered their faces kept on harassing and outraging her modesty, besides thrashing a youth who accompanied her.

A police official said the girl had been to Khaira Dam with two cousins in a motor-cycle on October 4 and one of the cousins left with the bike. The accused persons who were organising a picnic near the dam chased the two, harassed the girl and outraged her modesty, he said adding the duo did not disclose the incident to anyone out of fear and shame.

However, accused Hotasan Hati had made a video recording of the incident with his mobile phone and he later circulated the video in social media. Finally, it found place in TV news channels, he said adding though no complaint had been lodged, but a probe was launched as per the order of the SP following instruction from the DGP.

The accused were booked for outraging the modesty of the girl and under other relevant provisions of the IPC. As the video was posted in social media, they were also booked under provisions of the IT Act, police said.