A disturbing criminal incident has surfaced from the Cuttack district of Odisha, where a 26-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped inside a stationary vehicle by a group of five to six men. The crime occurred early Wednesday morning around 3 AM near the Enda area under the jurisdiction of the Nischintakoili police station on the Cuttack-Chandbali State Highway. Law enforcement authorities have swiftly launched a formal investigation, detaining two suspects while executing widespread search operations to track down the remaining perpetrators.
Vehicle Targeted Near Highway Petrol Station
According to official details, the victim is employed at a retail shopping mall in Bhubaneswar. She was returning to her hometown in Kendrapara district alongside a male friend who was driving the automobile. Her companion, a professional driver by occupation, had recently completed an extensive journey from Koraput and was experiencing severe physical fatigue. To recover from exhaustion, he decided to temporarily park the vehicle near a petrol station situated along the Cuttack-Chandbali road. While the occupants were resting inside the locked car, a group of five to six intoxicated men unexpectedly surrounded the vehicle.
Forcible Entry Using Iron Rods
Investigators revealed that the aggressors initially knocked aggressively on the car windows, demanding that the occupants unlock the vehicle. Recognizing the potential danger, the woman and her companion refused to open the doors. Escalating their attack, the intoxicated men procured iron rods and forcibly shattered the glass windows of the car. Upon breaking into the cabin, the assailants physically assaulted the male driver to incapacitate him, before subjecting the woman to a horrific sexual assault within the enclosed space of the vehicle.
Victim's Struggle and Escape Near Katikata
Following the assault, one of the perpetrators took control of the steering wheel and attempted to drive the vehicle carrying both victims towards the Katikata area in Cuttack district. Despite suffering injuries from the beatings, the male companion demonstrated immense fortitude by engaging in a physical struggle with the assailant driving the car. The ensuing scuffle inside the moving vehicle caught the attention of several local residents nearby. As local citizens approached to investigate the disturbance, the assailants panicked and fled the scene to avoid capture.
Police Investigation and Detention of Suspects
Upon receiving notification of the incident, police personnel arrived at the scene and transported the traumatized victims to the police station for immediate care and formal reporting. Based on the victim's official statement, police registered case number 305/26 covering charges of gang rape and violent assault. Cuttack Rural Superintendent of Police Vineet Agarwal confirmed that a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been designated to lead the thorough inquiry. Multiple specialized police teams have been mobilized to conduct raids across various locations, with two suspects currently detained for detailed interrogation.
