Police in Puri, Odisha, are actively searching for a fourth suspect involved in the recent gang rape of a college student near a local beach. This distressing incident unfolded on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
According to Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, the 19-year-old victim and her boyfriend were near the Baliharchandi temple when they were approached by a group of local youths. These individuals allegedly took photos and videos of the couple, then demanded money for their deletion. When the couple refused to comply, two members of the group sexually assaulted the woman while the others attacked her boyfriend, tying him to a tree.
The formal complaint was filed at the Puri Sadar police station on Monday evening, September 15, two days after the assault. Authorities have already arrested three individuals connected to the case, including the two primary assailants. The extensive manhunt for the remaining accused is ongoing.
Reacting to the incident, senior BJD leader and former MLA Sanjay Das Burma strongly criticized the BJP-led state government. He emphasized the urgent need for enhanced security measures around the Baliharchandi temple and its popular tourist vicinity to prevent such heinous crimes.
This incident tragically echoes a similar event from June 15, where a college student was gang-raped at Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district. In that case, ten individuals were apprehended by the police.