Odisha rape accused injured in police encounter after firing at cops
The victim lodged a first information report on Thursday at Nayapalli police station, alleging that an unidentified masked man entered her rented house
A man accused of raping a 26-year-old woman at gunpoint in Odisha’s Nayapalli was injured in a police encounter in Chandaka on Saturday after he allegedly opened fire at a police team while trying to escape, police said.
According to police, Panda was traced to Chandaka during the investigation into the alleged rape. (HT File Photo/ Representational)
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The accused, Sridhar Panda from Ganjam district, sustained two bullet injuries to his left foot and was admitted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment, Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police Saravana Dr Vivek M Saravana said.
“The accused fired two rounds at the police while attempting to escape. The police fired in self-defence,” Dr Saravana said, adding that Panda will be arrested after his recovery.
According to police, Panda was traced to Chandaka during the investigation into the alleged rape. When a police team attempted to apprehend him, he allegedly opened fire and tried to flee, following which the police fired at him.
The victim lodged a first information report on Thursday at Nayapalli police station, alleging that an unidentified masked man entered her rented house in Behera Sahi on Wednesday evening when she was alone and threatened her with a gun before allegedly raping her.
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According to police, the accused flashed a lighter styled as a gun, or a fake gun and then tied the victim up using her scarf. He also smashed her mobile phone.
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According to police, the accused flashed a lighter styled as a gun, or a fake gun and then tied the victim up using her scarf. He also smashed her mobile phone.
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“The accused had two cases of mobile theft against him earlier and had recceed the house to steal a mobile phone. But when he saw the girl alone, his motive changed,” a senior official said.
The accused allegedly held the gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she raised an alarm. He then fled the house after the alleged assault.
Police said CCTV footage showed the accused walking from the area towards CRP Square, where he boarded an Ama Bus. He later allegedly stole a motorcycle and fled. Investigators have been examining CCTV footage along the route to trace his movements.
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A scientific team visited the scene and collected samples as part of the investigation.
The Odisha State Commission for Women on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the incident and directed the Bhubaneswar DCP to submit a report within 15 days.
Panda was being treated at Capital Hospital and would be formally arrested after his recovery, police said.
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.
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