4 minors among 10 held in gang rape of 20-yr-old woman at Gopalpur beach, NCW seeks report

TEN people, including four minors, were apprehended on Tuesday in connection with the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman at the famed Gopalpur beach in Odisha, police said.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also strongly condemned the gang rape incident and termed it a "crime against humanity".

The National Commission of Women (NCW) sought a report on the incident which has sparked outrage across the state.

Odisha DGP Y B Khurania handed over the investigation to the CID and directed to treat it as a 'red flag case'.

The incident happened on Sunday night when the woman, an undergraduate student at a private college, went to the beach along with her boyfriend, who is a classmate, on the occasion of the Raja festival, police said.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar asked the Odisha DGP to submit an action taken report within three days and directed the immediate arrest of all the remaining accused, a swift and time-bound investigation, and provision of free medical and psychological support to the survivor.

"Compensation must be ensured to the victim under Section 396 of the BNSS," the NCW said in a social media post.

The woman, in her complaint lodged at the Gopalpur police station, alleged that when they were sitting at an isolated place on the beach, a group of 10 people approached them, rounded up her boyfriend and took turns to rape her.

"Exemplary action will be taken against the culprits in the Gopalpur gang rape incident. Such an incident is highly condemnable and is a crime against humanity. No culprit involved in this incident will be spared. The strictest punishment allowed by law will be meted out," Majhi said in a statement issued by the CMO.