Three individuals, including a 19-year-old woman, were apprehended for their alleged roles in the sexual assault of a minor girl in a wooded area close to the Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital, according to police reports on Thursday.
Jharsuguda SP GR Raghavendra stated that the main suspect, Raja Besan (24) from Buromal Gauntiapada, raped the minor late at night on May 17 with assistance from his two accomplices, Akash Pradhan (20) and Trupti Naik (19).
The police reported that the survivor was visiting a relative at the DHH. On that night, Trupti allegedly enticed her outside the hospital under the pretense of going for tea. Raja then purportedly took her to a nearby forested area where the assault occurred.
Trupti, who is related to Raja, and Akash were said to have actively facilitated the survivor’s movement to the location where the crime took place, according to police statements.
Raghavendra mentioned that following the complaint, police registered a case under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS. They collected scientific and forensic evidence, recorded the survivor’s statement through audio-visual means, and conducted her medical examination while also interviewing witnesses.
Multiple teams were established to capture the suspects. Acting on technical information, Airport police, led by IIC Prashant Kumar Sethi, first detained Akash and Trupti from the Buromal area on May 19. Based on their interrogations, police located the main suspect, Raja, and arrested him as he attempted to escape on Wednesday night, the SP added.
The trio of accused was presented in court and placed in judicial custody on the same day.
