19-Year-Old Gang-Raped Near Puri’s Baliharchandi Temple, 3 Arrested
Teen assaulted near Puri temple, boyfriend tied up.
In a chilling incident near the Baliharchandi temple in Puri, Odisha, a 19-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped in front of her boyfriend on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The horrific assault, which has sent shockwaves through the community, led to the arrest of three local men, with one suspect still at large, police reported on Monday.
According to authorities, the survivor and her boyfriend were sitting near the beach when the accused approached them, recording the couple and demanding money to delete the videos. When the couple refused, two of the men allegedly raped the young woman while the others assaulted her boyfriend, tying him to a tree to prevent him from intervening. The traumatized survivor filed a complaint on Monday evening, prompting swift police action. The arrested suspects reportedly deleted the incriminating videos before their apprehension.
This disturbing case is part of a troubling rise in sexual assault incidents across Odisha. Just last week, on September 10, a woman was allegedly raped by three men at a lodge in Bhubaneswar. The perpetrators, arrested on Saturday, lured the victim, a singer, with promises of a lucrative musical project, only to drug and assault her. On September 5, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Kandhamal by a 28-year-old man who offered her a ride while she was en route to a Ganesh idol immersion ceremony. The accused was arrested five days later. Additionally, last month, a 10-year-old tribal girl in Mayurbhanj was allegedly raped by a 20-year-old from her community, who was later apprehended.
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The string of assaults has sparked outrage and heightened concerns about women’s safety in Odisha. Local authorities are under pressure to address the growing wave of violence, with calls for stricter enforcement and preventive measures. The Puri incident, in particular, has drawn attention due to its brazen nature and the vulnerability of the victims. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on bringing the remaining suspect to justice and supporting the survivor in her recovery from this traumatic ordeal.
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