16-Year-Old Odisha Girl Gang Raped For Days In Visakhapatnam

A 16-year-old girl from Odisha, employed as a house help in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, was reportedly gang raped by a group of 12 individuals, with 11 already arrested, as per police statements on Tuesday.

The detained accused have been remanded to judicial custody until January 12, while poice continues the search for the remaining two involved individuals.

The Andhra Pradesh Police detailed that the minor was allegedly gang raped by her boyfriend and his friend. Subsequently, she attempted suicide at RK Beach, where she was assaulted by photographers over several days before being left in Odisha. The police swiftly arrested all but two of the accused following the incident.

Reportedly, the girl had arrived in Visakhapatnam from Odisha nine months prior. After going missing on December 17, her father filed a missing person's report on December 18 in Visakhapatnam. The Odisha Police notified her father about her location on December 23. Accompanied by the police, her father brought her back on December 25.

The victim, dealing with psychological trauma, disclosed the ordeal to her parents on December 31. She revealed that she had been assaulted by 12 people on different occasions at various lodges, per police statements.

The police mentioned that she recounted going with her friend and his companion on her birthday, leading to coerced intercourse at a lodge near RK Beach. Later, she encountered photographers at the beach who, under the guise of offering support, exploited her in a lodge.

Furthermore, six more individuals reportedly joined in assaulting her until December 22. On December 23, she was dropped off near an Odisha police station with a minimal amount of money, later sheltered by the police who informed her parents.

The police launched an operation, resulting in the arrest of 11 accused, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), criticized the YSRCP government, condemning its inability to safeguard women in the state. Nara Lokesh from TDP criticized the government's handling of law and order, describing the incident as reflective of the dire situation in Visakhapatnam. Similarly, Manickam Tagore from Congress emphasized the need for authorities to address such cases and ensure a safer environment.