Konark: Police Thursday arrested managers of six lodging houses here for their alleged involvement in the gang-rape of a Bengali girl under Konark police limits recently.
The accused were identified as Shiba Behera, Krushna Chandra Behera, Arata Behera, Alok Kumar Pradhan, Bhimsen Senapati and Prashanta Das.
According to sources, the girl was allegedly gang-raped by more than 12 persons for 10 consecutive days in a house situated at Konark market complex in Puri district and was rescued October 17. The survivor was brought to Odisha by another woman named Kajal who had promised her a job last year. However, Kajal and his beau forced her into prostitution.
The victim told the police that one Subash Behera had abducted her and held her captive in the house, where he and several others took turns to rape her for 10 days, sources said.
However, the failure of the police in arresting the accused raised questions on competency of the police. State Mahila Morcha and Uktala Mahila Samiti had lodged complaints in this regard. They had demanded immediate halt to the construction of the lodging facility.
Acting on a direction of the Puri Superintendent of Police, Konark police station in-charge Sanjib Kumar Pradhan conducted raids at several places from October 18 to 25 and sealed 14 illegal lodges and arrested six lodge managers. Police registered a case (104/18) and produce them in the court Thursday, said the Konark PS in-charge.
Bengali girl gang-rape: 6 held; 14 lodges sealed
