Teen Girl Gang-Raped in Front of Boyfriend Near Puri Beach
A 19-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped near the Baliharchandi (Baliharchandi) temple area at Puri beach on Saturday after four men started recording the couple and demanded money to delete the videos; when the couple refused, two of the accused allegedly assaulted and sexually violated the woman while others tied up the boyfriend. The woman came forward to file a complaint on Monday, and police have arrested three local suspects while one accused remains at large; the arrested men reportedly deleted the videos before their arrest.
The incident — the who, what, when, where
According to the report published on September 16, 2025, a 19-year-old college student and her boyfriend were sitting near the Baliharchandi temple area at Puri beach when a group of men began recording them. The men allegedly demanded money in exchange for deleting the footage; when the couple refused, two persons in the group allegedly sexually assaulted the woman while others assaulted the boyfriend and tied him to a tree. The survivor filed a complaint to the police on Monday, after which three local suspects were arrested and another accused was reported to be on the run. The arrested persons reportedly deleted the videos before being detained.
Those are the core facts as they currently stand: a sexual-assault complaint, the location (Baliharchandi/Puri beach), a timeline (incident on Saturday; complaint filed Monday; arrests thereafter), and the number of accused — three arrested and one at large. The story also places this incident in a broader, worrying pattern of sexual assault cases emerging across Odisha in recent weeks.
FAQs
Q1: What exactly did the police say happened at Puri’s Baliharchandi area?
A1: Police said a 19-year-old college student and her boyfriend were allegedly recorded by a group of men, who demanded money to delete the footage. When the couple refused, two people in the group allegedly assaulted the woman while others restrained and assaulted the boyfriend. The survivor filed a complaint on Monday; three suspects have been arrested and one is reportedly still at large.
Q2: Were any digital videos used as evidence?
A2: The accused reportedly deleted the videos before they were arrested, complicating the digital-evidence trail. Authorities may still attempt forensic recovery of deleted files or examine backups if devices are recovered quickly.
Q3: Is this an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern in Odisha?
A3: The NDTV report places the incident amid several recent sexual-assault reports in Odisha, including other high-profile cases in Bhubaneswar and incidents involving minors in Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj — suggesting a worrying cluster of cases that merit systemic attention.
Q4: What immediate support should survivors seek?
A4: Survivors should seek medical care (for health and evidence), file an FIR if they choose, preserve any communication or threats, and contact legal aid or survivor-support NGOs. Confidential counselling and police units trained in trauma-informed responses can help.
Q5: How can the public help prevent similar incidents at tourist spots?
A5: Communities can strengthen visible security, install and maintain CCTV responsibly, run awareness drives, empower bystanders with safe intervention strategies, implement buddy systems for visitors, and create easily accessible helplines and help desks for immediate reporting.
