According to reports, this marks the third instance of sexual assault reported across the state within a span of just 36 hours, sparking widespread outrage and political debate over public safety.

Swift Action by Local Police

The horrific crime came to light on Tuesday after the victim’s mother, a native of the Raipur district in Chhattisgarh, lodged a formal complaint with the Kendrapara Sadar police. The family, who sells brooms for a livelihood, had been living in a temporary roadside tent along the Kendrapara-Chandabali state highway for the last three months.

According to the complaint, the minor girl had gone out to answer nature's call late at night when two intoxicated men forcefully dragged her to a secluded nearby field. The miscreants allegedly gangraped her at knifepoint and assaulted her when she attempted to resist. Before fleeing, they threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone.

Following the complaint, the police administration swung into action. Kendrapara SP Sidhartha Kataria confirmed that a case has been registered under sections 70, 76, 115(2), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012. A scientific team was deployed to examine the crime scene, and the minor’s statement was recorded under section 180 of the BNSS. Utilizing CCTV footage from the surrounding areas, the police have detained two suspects, aged 30 and 34, who are currently undergoing interrogation.

Political Backlash Over Public Safety

The incident has triggered intense political friction in the state, with opposition parties launching sharp criticisms against the ruling administration.

Ganeswar Behera, the BJD MLA from Kendrapara, expressed deep shock over the audacity of the crime, stating that a sexual assault occurring so close to the district's top police office points to a "complete collapse of public safety." He alleged that the BJP-led state government has failed to protect women and children despite making it a cornerstone of their election campaign. Echoing these concerns, Debasmita Sharma, the President of the Congress district unit, stated that the incident exposes an alarming deterioration of law and order.

In response, BJP district president Sasanka Sekhar Sethi dismissed the criticisms, emphasizing that the police acted with utmost urgency to nab the suspects. He accused the opposition of attempting to politicize a sensitive human tragedy. As the investigation progresses, the incident continues to dominate local headlines, raising urgent questions regarding the security of migrant workers and vulnerable communities.