Sundargarh: In a swift operation, the Dharuadihi police arrested three men on Tuesday night for the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Talsara village under the Dharuadihi police station limits in Sundargarh district, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, all residents of Talsara village and aged 23, 24, and 25, were apprehended at around 9:30 pm — barely two-and-a-half hours after the victim’s mother lodged a complaint at the police station.
According to police, the incident occurred on June 16, 2026, at around 3:30 pm. The minor was returning home after bathing in a nearby river when the three men allegedly waylaid her, dragged her to a secluded spot, and gang-raped her.
The brutal assault left the girl severely injured and bleeding profusely. She lost consciousness at the spot and later returned home in critical condition. The victim narrated the ordeal to her family, after which she and her mother reached Dharuadihi Police Station around 7 pm to register the complaint.
Sundargarh Superintendent of Police Amritpal Kaur immediately swung into action. She personally met the victim, visited the crime scene, and formed multiple teams to nab the culprits.
Under the supervision of the SDPO, teams from Dharuadihi and neighbouring police stations launched a coordinated search and arrested all three accused by 9:30 pm. The FIR (Case No. 125) was formally registered by 11:36 pm the same night.
The accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. Police said they are collecting forensic evidence and other corroborative material to strengthen the case. The victim has been provided medical treatment and psychological counselling.
As per Section 23 of the POCSO Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the identity of the minor victim is being withheld. Police have appealed to the public and media to refrain from publishing any details that could reveal her identity.