College Student Gang-Raped By 10 At Odisha Beach, Male Friend Tied Up

10 men have been arrested for the alleged gang-rape of a young woman near the Gopalpur beach in Odisha's Ganjam district. The incident reportedly took place when the woman had gone to visit the beach with her male friend.

Police say all the accused are from Hinjilicut area. The accused allegedly gang-raped the woman on Sunday, around 8:30 pm, at the Gopalpur beach after they saw the woman and her male friend sitting at a secluded spot.

Taking to her X handle, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the incident of gang-rape of a young woman at Gopalpur beach. So far 10 people have been arrested. I have spoken to the SP regarding this incident and have ordered a thorough investigation and necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future."

The accused also restrained the male friend, assaulted him, and clicked pictures of the two and threatened to make them viral if they did not pay up. The accused allegedly took the woman aside and raped her and then fled from the spot.

The police added that the accused allegedly dragged the woman's friend to a distance and tied him up while the others took turns to rape her.

According to the police the rape survivor is a college student from a nearby district and had been staying at a private mess in Berhampur. She went to the beach with a male friend, who is also her classmate. 

The Gopalpur beach area in Ganjam district is frequented by tourists from far-off places and is among the famous beach resort towns in the state.

The medical examination of the victim has been conducted, and an investigation is underway to piece together how the crime took place.

With inputs by Dev Kumar Ghosh