Delhi girl intern with NGO stripped, molested in Odisha; 20 arrested | India Information
4 min learnBhubaneswarUp to date: Jun 20, 2026 07:15 PM IST
A younger girl interning with a number one NGO in Odisha was molested and assaulted by dozens of villagers in Rayagada, whereas her male colleague was overwhelmed up, in what police say is a case of “little one kidnapping” rumours spiralling uncontrolled.
Although the incident occurred on the night of June 16, it got here to gentle after the police arrested no less than 20 individuals, together with a number of juveniles, on Saturday.
The victims – each are aged 22; the girl is from Delhi and the person from Surat – have labored with the NGO as a part of a prestigious fellowship in tribal areas since September final yr.
Speaking to The Indian Categorical, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad mentioned the incident occurred when the 2 had been travelling within the district on a scooter and needed to cowl practically 250 kilometres.
“As the 2 travelled by way of the area, there was a hearsay in regards to the presence of kid kidnappers within the locality. Suspecting them, some locals chased them on bikes. When their car slipped and overturned close to a subject at round 8:30 pm, the mob assaulted the 2 professionals, stripped the girl, and molested her,” mentioned the SP.
The girl advised native media that they had been utilizing Google Maps for navigation as a result of they had been unfamiliar with the area. “Whereas we had been travelling, somebody claiming to be native advised us to not go forward as a result of the highway was in poor situation. As we had been making an attempt to show again, he tried to drag the keys from our scooter and requested to point out our identification playing cards. I introduced my ID, however he refused to consider us. We had been scared as a crowd gathered abruptly,” she mentioned.
She mentioned that her colleague began the scooter and left, however locals on bikes chased them. She mentioned their scooter slipped close to a subject, after which the mob caught up with them, assaulted each, and stripped and molested her.
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“They assaulted me, pulled my hair, tore my garments and inappropriately touched me. I’m scared and need to return to my place. We had been right here to do social work,” she mentioned.
Even because the police reached the spot on getting data and tried to rescue the 2, together with the assistance of some locals, the mob turned violent and continued assaulting them.
Balaram Bagh, 26, who works as a driver within the locality, helped the police rescue the 2. He first took them to the police station, and later to the closest group well being centre.
“As I used to be on my technique to a dhaba for dinner with my buddy, I seen a mob assaulting them. I attempted my finest to drag them away from the group and to escort them to the police car. I took off my T-shirt and gave it to the girl because the mob had torn her gown,” Balaram advised The Indian Categorical.
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Balaram mentioned the mob was so violent that they even chased the police car as much as the group well being centre and tried to vandalise the premises.
The Rayagada SP mentioned three instances have been registered and 20 individuals have been arrested. Extra arrests are seemingly.
Police sources mentioned the victims had been traumatised and had been supplied medical therapy earlier than being handed over to their households.
Gram Vikas government director Liby Johnson, when contacted, mentioned the 2 are usually not prepared to speak.
