Police in Odisha's Rayagada district have intensified their crackdown on those involved in the brutal assault of a Delhi woman and her Gujarat-based male colleague, with the number of arrests rising to 21 after five more suspects were taken into custody on Friday night. The two fellowship students were mistakenly accused of being child kidnappers by a mob in a remote village four days earlier.
Latest Arrests and Investigation
DIG (South Western Range) Akhileswar Singh confirmed that the latest arrests were made during overnight raids in and around the villages linked to the incident. "With the arrest of five more persons on Friday night, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 21. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend all those involved in the assault," he said.
Police have registered four cases in connection with the attack and identified several suspects based on CCTV footage, video clips, and other evidence. Preliminary findings suggest that around 40 to 50 people may have participated in the assault. Earlier, 16 persons, including the alleged prime accused, were arrested, with authorities indicating more arrests would follow.
Details of the Incident
The two fellowship students stopped near Kandulguda village under Silet panchayat to seek directions. They interacted with children celebrating the Raja festival and distributed chocolates among them. Some villagers allegedly spread rumours that they were child-lifters, which spread rapidly across neighbouring villages through phone calls and word of mouth.
Despite showing their identity cards and explaining the purpose of their visit, the mob chased the two workers, half-stripped the woman, and brutally assaulted them. Personnel from Kalyansinghpur police rescued them and shifted them to a hospital for treatment. Both have since been discharged.
Police Response and Next Steps
The DIG said the investigation is progressing on multiple fronts, with authorities examining videos recorded by villagers and gathering eyewitness accounts to determine the role of each individual involved. "No one involved in the incident will be spared. The investigation is being carried out meticulously and further arrests are likely," he assured.
