Gopalpur Beach Horror: Ten Arrested in Shocking Gang Rape Case

Incident Overview
In a distressing incident that occurred at Gopalpur beach, a college student was gang-raped while her male companion was assaulted and restrained. This shocking event took place just two days ago, prompting police to apprehend ten individuals, including four minors, on Tuesday.
The adult suspects have been identified as Pramod Kumar Nayak, 23, from Hundata village, Baburam Dalei, 23, Lakhsman Pradhan, 24, from Burupada village, and Kunal Pradhan, 24, from Patapur village. Their associates, Om Pradhan, 24, and Deepak Tarai, 19, are also implicated.
Pramod, the main suspect, has a criminal history that includes charges of attempted murder and bomb-making. He was reportedly visiting from Bangalore when the crime occurred.
Details of the Crime
The police have detained four minors in connection with the case. The adult suspects were presented in court and placed in judicial custody, while the minors were referred to a Juvenile Justice Board. Authorities seized three motorcycles and eight mobile phones from the suspects.
According to police reports, three of the ten suspects assaulted the victim, while the remaining seven attacked her male friend, holding him captive. The survivor, who is in her final year of college, is from outside the district.
Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M addressed the media at a press conference, stating that they would request the Juvenile Justice Board to treat the four minors as adults due to the severity of the crime, as they are all 17 years old.
Investigation Progress
The suspects allegedly visited Gopalpur beach for a swim before moving to a secluded area. The survivor and her friend also chose a quiet spot nearby. Seven suspects approached the pair, attacking the male friend while Pramod, Baburam, and Kunal assaulted the girl.
They threatened to record the assault and share it online, extorting ₹1,000 from the male friend and additional funds via a payment app.
After the incident, the survivor and her friend reported the crime to the Gopalpur police station. Police IIC Prasant Kumar Mallick and his team quickly launched a raid, detaining seven suspects for questioning. Three additional teams were formed to locate the remaining suspects, two of whom were attempting to flee to Bangalore and Surat when apprehended.
Legal Actions and Community Response
The investigation is being led by DSP Akshaya Kumar Panda from the Investigative Units for Crime Against Women (IUCAW), with support from woman DSP Alma Lakra. Blood samples from the survivor and the three main suspects have been collected for DNA testing.
The police have filed a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including gang rape and criminal intimidation. The SP assured that a chargesheet would be filed promptly, emphasizing their commitment to securing maximum penalties for the offenders.
To prevent future incidents, the SP announced plans to enhance beach patrols and requested additional patrol vehicles and improved lighting along the beach.
Government and Public Reaction
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has ordered a comprehensive investigation and measures to prevent similar occurrences. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the state, particularly as Gopalpur is a popular tourist destination.
Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik expressed his outrage, condemning the incident and calling for increased safety measures for women in tourist areas. He highlighted the need for government vigilance against rising violence towards women.
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous described the incident as a stark indication of the breakdown of law and order, demanding accountability from the state government. Local MLA and state minister Bibhuti B Jena assured that all suspects would face severe consequences.