University girl gangraped, police personnel attacked

Sambalpur, Feb 24 (UNI) Tension prevailed in this western Orissa town as the students and public today resorted to road blockade and attacked a police officer to protest against the alleged gangraped of a university girl student.

Sambalpur University sources said a first-year girl of MCA course was found in critical condition near a nursing home at Sakhipara here this afternoon.

Local people brought her to the district headquarters hospital in critical condition.

Soon after the incident, tension ran high as the news of gangrape spread like wild fire.

The students and public have not only attacked local police officers inside the hospital but blocked road in front of the Gangadhar Meher College protesting against the police ''inaction'' and demanding the arrest of the culprits.

They said the girl was gangraped near the ''deer park'' and was dropped near the nursing home. The attending doctor said the girl was forced to take some drugs and as a result she had become unconscious.

There were also burning injury mostly by cigarette on various parts of body, the doctor said.

On hearing the news, student leaders and leaders of ruling and opposition parties rushed to the hospital. The assistant lady superintendent of the hostel failed to satisfy the agitated public who questioned the safety of the hostelles.

University Registrar Ramani Ranjan Padhi also faced the public wrath and the angry mob attacked the police personnel on duty.

Police said the girl left the girl's hostel on yesterday afternoon with another girl.

Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, who visited the hospital, said that the culprits would be arrested soon. Once the girl regained her sense, it would be easier for the police to nab the culprits on the basis of her statement, he said.

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