4 Held for Gang-Raping, Blackmailing Odisha Engineering Student

Bhubaneswar's law enforcement struck decisively against a heinous crime ring targeting female students. Four individuals, including the boyfriend of an engineering college attendee, face charges of gang rape and extortion via compromising videos, arrested Wednesday after the victim's bold FIR. Detailed identities reveal Shubhankar Padi, 21, from Balasore; Ranjan Behera, 24, from Jajpur; Ratiranjan Tarei, 23, also from Jajpur; and Sipun Behera, 23, from Khordha. The plot unfolded when Shubhankar, a classmate, invited the 20-year-old to what seemed a casual dinner at Ranjan's Info Valley rental nearly three weeks back. Ambush awaited: Shubhankar's accomplices lurked inside. A spiked cold drink rendered her unconscious, paving the way for the group's savage attack. She awoke battered, learning later of the filmed atrocities meant for leverage. Extortion escalated with Ranjan deploying the footage to coerce additional rapes at a nearby apartment this April. Trauma finally propelled her to police Tuesday, triggering charges under BNS 64(2)(M), 70(1), 351(2), and IT Act 66E. Prompt arrests followed, with court appearance yielding 14-day judicial remand. Recovered mobiles hold key evidence as probes delve into potential accomplices and patterns. Contextually, this mirrors a recent bust where a local kirana owner was jailed for assaulting an MBA aspirant in the vicinity. Amid surging campus vulnerabilities, Odisha police vow enhanced patrols, counseling hotlines, and tech forensics to shield students, urging society to confront predatory behaviors head-on.