Married tribal woman ‘gang-raped’

SAMBALPUR: A 35-year-old married tribal woman was allegedly gang- raped by four persons in an isolated area of Sarla here on Monday night. The miscreants also assaulted the victim with a sharp weapon.
The incident came to light after the victim lodged a complaint with Dhanupali police on Tuesday night.

The woman, who works in a restaurant along VSS Marg in the city, said she was going to her house after work on Monday evening when one Surendra, who is known to her, stopped her at Bhutapada Chowk within Dhanupali police limits. He told the woman that Sambalpur Sadar police had detained her husband for his involvement in a loot case. Surendra even offered to take her to Sadar police station on his motorcycle.

On their way, Surendra, however, changed the route and stopped his motorcycle at an isolated place. He told the victim that the bike was out of fuel and he needs to call his friends for petrol. Subsequently, Surendra walked some distance and made a call from his mobile phone following which three persons came to the spot in an auto-rickshaw after a few minutes, the victim stated in her complaint.

Soon after, the four overpowered the woman and took her to a deserted place where they gave her a pill to eat at knife point. When she refused to comply, they attacked her with knife and forced her to take the pill. Then the four took turns and raped her, she alleged.

Dhanupali IIC Tophan Bag said police have detained four persons and are interrogating them. No arrests have been made so far and further investigation is on, he added.