The victim was staying in the hostel of a residential college and had visited her uncle’s house in Gopalpur village yesterday. She had been to watch opera being staged near the village along with her brother in the evening and returning when the miscreants struck.
En-route to home from Kalipadia, the opera venue, at least four youths waylaid the duo and dragged the victim into a nearby forest after overpowering her brother. The girl was raped by the accused subsequently.
Some locals swung into action after hearing the scream of the girl and nabbed one of the accused from the spot. He was tied up to a pole and handed over to the local police after its arrival.
While an investigation is underway in the case, the held accused is being interrogated by police.
Prasanta Patnaik