Police arrest 2 in connection with Maria rape case

Puri, Mar 29 (UNI) The police here arrested two persons in connection with the rape of Austrian national Maria and her five-year-old daughter in 2000.

Yamikova Maria, living in Baliapanda, had lodged a complaint with the police that eight persons had raped her and her daughter in 2000.

The sea beach police had registered a case of rape and arrested two in connection with the crime.

Later, the state crime branch conducted the investigation and charge-sheeted three Italians- Mitchel Rambola alias Mayapur Chandra, Passito Matto alias Mandalibhadra and Willium George Bendict alias Bhakta Das -- besides five others.

The Sessions Court after a long trial acquitted all the accused as the prosecution failed to prove them guilty. However, the state government appealed to the High Court against the acquittal.

The High court issued arrest warrants against the accused who did not appear in the court. While the police arrested Dillip Das and Dasmahapatra, Budhia Barik is still at large.

Meanwhile, Willium George Benedict alias Bhakta Das, one of the Italian accused in the case, has been deported to US as he was wanted there by the police in connection with drug cases pending against him.

UNI