Bhubaneswar: Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested three accused for their alleged role in the brutal gang rape of a 34-year-old woman from Odisha. The horrific incident took place on the intervening night of October 10-11.
According to Times Now sources, the accused have been identified after analysing more than 700 CCTV footage.
The victim hails from Odisha’s Puri, she is a researcher and social worker with over eight years of experience in the social sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, and has worked with several prominent organisations.
Times Now learnt, according to the investigation, she arrived in Delhi on May 9, 2024, without notifying her family, prompting them to file a missing person report in June.
The victim’s behaviour became increasingly erratic, leading her to severe ties with her family.
Police team mapped over 700 CCTV cameras, covering key areas from Sarai Kale Khan to Old Delhi Railway Station. They verified more than 150 auto-rickshaws, preserving critical CCTV evidence.
Through persistent efforts, the accused’s auto (DL 1 RAA 9327) and its driver, Prabhu Mahto, were identified. Prabhu Mahto was apprehended on October 30, 2024, followed by the arrests of Pramod Babu on November 2, 2024, and Mohammad Shamsul on November 4, 2024.
According to the Delhi Police, the woman was allegedly raped before she was dumped in Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan on October 12. The police reached the site after it received a call form a passerby around 3.30 am. The woman was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, the police said. The officials also added that the woman had been constantly changing her statements, which is making the case challenging.
Meanwhile, the police believe that the woman was sexually assaulted somewhere else, and was dumped in Sarai Kale Khan area later. A senior officer from the Delhi Police said the woman belonged to Orissa. Nearly a year ago, she left her home and settled in the national capital. The victim used to stay with a friend in Katwaria Sarai.
However, she was asked to vacate the place in August due to some disputes. After which, she had to spend several nights on Delhi’s Street. He added that she was previously seen in southeast Delhi’s Jamroodpur. There she allegedly tried to trespass a house. No police complain was filed though.
She also spent a night in ATM booth in Kishangarh, the police said. During an interrogation, the woman kept on changing her statements, causing trouble to the police to establish facts. “She is changing her statement and not cooperating with the investigators. Her parents have been informed and she has been kept under observation,” the officer said.
