At a time when the entire country is protesting the gang-rape of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi, Orissa capital has shockingly witnessed two identical incidents in less than a week’s period.
On Sunday night, an auto-rickshaw driver and two of his “associates” picked up a girl from Baramunda bus stand in the city and tried to molest her in the running vehicle. When the girl protested, the youths severely beat her up and threw her out at Fire Station Square.
She was later rescued in critical conditions by some volunteers and admitted to a private hospital.
Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police Nitinjit Singh said the police had registered a case against the accused and launched a manhunt for the culprits.
“It is a case of molestation and not rape as is being alleged by some. We are quite hopeful to arrest the culprits soon,” the DCP said.
Narrating her ordeal from the hospital bed, the victim said, “I boarded the auto at Barmunda bus stand to go to Master Canteen square area last night. Two youths, who boarded the same auto, misbehaved with me and offered money. When I refused to accept it and raised an alarm they threw me out of the running auto. They were drunk.”
Members of women’s organisations, SUCI, DSO and others demonstrated on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here demanding punishment for the culprits.
Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda also condemned the incident.