Shocking Arrest: Surat Man Charged with Multiple Rapes of Berhampur Girl

Arrest of Suspect in Berhampur Rape Case

Berhampur: Authorities in Odisha have apprehended a 26-year-old man from Surat, Gujarat, accused of repeatedly raping a girl from Berhampur over the past eight months, as reported by police on Wednesday.

The suspect, originally from Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh, was taken into custody by a team from the Berhampur Town police station on Sunday, according to Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M.

Working as an autorickshaw driver in Surat, the accused was presented in a Surat court before being transported back to Odisha on a transit remand, where he was subsequently brought before a local court on Tuesday night.

The victim, who is 17 years old, traveled to Surat alone in November of the previous year following a dispute with her family. It was at the Surat railway station that she first encountered the accused.

While seeking employment in Surat, the accused lured her with job promises and took her to his residence, where he allegedly assaulted her multiple times, as stated by another police officer.

The girl was among 55 women and children rescued during the ongoing 'Operation Anweshan,' an initiative by Odisha Police aimed at locating missing and abducted individuals. This operation commenced on Monday and is set to last for a week.

After her rescue, the victim was placed in a local shelter, according to police.

"In the last two days leading up to Tuesday, we have successfully rescued approximately 44 individuals, including 32 women and 12 children," reported Ganjam Superintendent of Police Subhendu Patra.

Most of the rescued individuals were found in various locations across the state, he added.

The Berhampur SP noted that around 10 women and children have been rescued during this operation.

It is important to mention that Ganjam district is divided into two police jurisdictions: Ganjam and Berhampur.