4 accused in student gang-rape case minors, say cops, plan to try them as adults
Berhampur/Bhubaneswar: Four of the 10 suspected to be involved in the alleged gang-rape of a college student on Gopalpur beach on Sunday are minors, police revealed on Tuesday, adding that they plan to prosecute the 17-year-olds as adults.
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"Considering the gravity and heinous nature of the crime, we will pray to the Juvenile Justice Board to prosecute the four minors as adults under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015," Berhampur SP, Saravana Vivek M, said following the arrest of all accused on Tuesday. The adult accused have been identified as Pramod Nayak (23), Baburam Dalai (19), Laxmana Pradhan (24), Kunal Pradhan (24), Deepak Tarain (19) and Om Pradhan (19), all residents of Ganjam district.
The survivor, aged 20, hails from another district.
During Raja festival, the student had gone to the beach with her male friend and was sitting in a secluded, dark stretch when they were attacked by the men.
"Investigation showed three of the adults accused sexually assaulted her while others aided them by attacking and overpowering the girl and her friend," Saravana said. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation with CM Mohan Charan Majhi directing police to take exemplary action against those involved in the gang-rape.
"Such acts are highly deplorable and a crime against humanity. No perpetrator involved in this incident will be spared. The harshest punishment permitted by law will be enforced," the CM's office said in a statement.
According to the police, the accused were already present on the beach when the victims arrived around 6.30 pm. Between 8 and 9 pm, they overpowered the male companion and dragged the woman about 50 feet away before assaulting her sexually, police said.
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"Post-assault, the perpetrators extorted some money through cash and UPI transactions from the girl and her friend," the SP said. They left around 10 pm, threatening the duo with severe consequences if they went to the police.
According to police sources, Pramod, the prime accused, has a criminal history. A BTech dropout, he is an employee at an electronics factory near Bengaluru, and had been previously arrested in an attempt to murder case.
"Besides the attempt to murder case, he was also booked in a bomb making case under Purusottampur police station area a few years back," Saravana said.
Police said Pramod had recently returned home on holiday break. On the occasion of Raja festival, he and his friends had gone to the beach.
Berhampur/Bhubaneswar: Four of the 10 suspected to be involved in the alleged gang-rape of a college student on Gopalpur beach on Sunday are minors, police revealed on Tuesday, adding that they plan to prosecute the 17-year-olds as adults.
"Considering the gravity and heinous nature of the crime, we will pray to the Juvenile Justice Board to prosecute the four minors as adults under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015," Berhampur SP, Saravana Vivek M, said following the arrest of all accused on Tuesday. The adult accused have been identified as Pramod Nayak (23), Baburam Dalai (19), Laxmana Pradhan (24), Kunal Pradhan (24), Deepak Tarain (19) and Om Pradhan (19), all residents of Ganjam district.
The survivor, aged 20, hails from another district.
During Raja festival, the student had gone to the beach with her male friend and was sitting in a secluded, dark stretch when they were attacked by the men.
"Investigation showed three of the adults accused sexually assaulted her while others aided them by attacking and overpowering the girl and her friend," Saravana said. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation with CM Mohan Charan Majhi directing police to take exemplary action against those involved in the gang-rape.
"Such acts are highly deplorable and a crime against humanity. No perpetrator involved in this incident will be spared. The harshest punishment permitted by law will be enforced," the CM's office said in a statement.
According to the police, the accused were already present on the beach when the victims arrived around 6.30 pm. Between 8 and 9 pm, they overpowered the male companion and dragged the woman about 50 feet away before assaulting her sexually, police said.
"Post-assault, the perpetrators extorted some money through cash and UPI transactions from the girl and her friend," the SP said. They left around 10 pm, threatening the duo with severe consequences if they went to the police.
According to police sources, Pramod, the prime accused, has a criminal history. A BTech dropout, he is an employee at an electronics factory near Bengaluru, and had been previously arrested in an attempt to murder case.
"Besides the attempt to murder case, he was also booked in a bomb making case under Purusottampur police station area a few years back," Saravana said.
Police said Pramod had recently returned home on holiday break. On the occasion of Raja festival, he and his friends had gone to the beach.
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