June 17, 2025: In a shocking and horrifying incident in Odisha, a 20-year-old female undergraduate student gang-raped in front of her male friend at the popular Gopalpur sea beach, ten people were arrested in Odisha’s Ganjam district, officials said on Tuesday.
According to the survivor’s complaint, she and a male friend had gone to the beach to celebrate the festival and were sitting at a secluded spot when a group of 10 men arrived on three motorcycles. The group allegedly began taking photos of the duo and threatened to post them online. They then physically assaulted the male friend, tied his hands, and dragged the woman to an abandoned house nearby where at least three of the men allegedly raped her.
After the traumatic ordeal, the woman and her friend managed to reach the Gopalpur police station and reported the crime. Acting swiftly, police began an investigation, visited the crime scene, and tracked down all ten suspects within hours.
Government Reacts
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida responded strongly to the incident, assuring that strict action will be taken:
Taking to X, she 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,” Parida said in a post on X.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.