KORAPUT: Sixteen people were arrested on Thursday evening for allegedly attacking a young woman from Delhi and her Gujarat-based male colleague, mistaking them for child kidnappers, with a mob chasing, half-stripping the woman and brutally assaulting both in a remote village in Rayagada district of Odisha. Police said a manhunt is on to nab more accused. The arrests come as disturbing details emerge of how a routine fellowship field visit turned into a terrifying ordeal for the two young development workers, who claim they were attacked despite repeatedly showing their identity cards and explaining the purpose of their visit. Police have registered four cases in connection with the incident, which occurred under Kalyansinghpur police limits in Rayagada district on the night of June 16. Preliminary investigations suggest that 40 to 50 people may have participated in the assault. “Acting swiftly, Kalyansinghpur police rescued the two victims and arrested 16 persons, including the prime accused, based on CCTV footage and other evidence. We are also verifying videos recorded by people present at the spot. More arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. Every individual involved in the assault will be identified and brought to justice,” Rayagada SP Raj Prasad said. The victims in their early twenties, were working with voluntary organisations under fellowship programmes. While the Delhi girl was engaged in solid waste management initiatives in Kalahandi district, the Surat boy was associated with a turmeric packaging project in Kandhamal district. According to police, the duo was travelling from Daringbadi in Kandhamal district to Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district on a scooter. Unfamiliar with the route, they were relying on Google Maps when they entered the Kalyansinghpur region. The two reportedly stopped near Kandulguda village under Silet Panchayat to seek directions. During the stop, they interacted with children celebrating Raja festival and distributed chocolates among them. What appeared to be an innocent interaction soon snowballed into suspicion after some villagers allegedly spread rumours that the outsiders were child lifters.Within minutes, the rumour spread across neighbouring villages through phone calls and word of mouth. As crowds began gathering, the volunteers sensed danger and attempted to leave the area. Recalling the incident, the girl said they tried repeatedly to convince people that they were fellowship volunteers and even showed official identity documents. “We were on an exposure visit and had done nothing wrong. Even after showing our identification documents, people continued to suspect us. The crowd kept growing and the situation became frightening,” she alleged, adding that the experience has left both of them traumatised. The volunteers further alleged that when they attempted to seek police help, some members of the crowd misbehaved with them and physically assaulted them. According to investigators, the duo’s scooter reportedly skidded near Dhamunipanga Panchayat while they were trying to leave the area. A large mob then allegedly chased them down and assaulted them, leaving both seriously injured.Acting on information, Kalyansinghpur IIC Kalpana Behera rushed to the spot and rescued the victims. They were initially admitted to the Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre before being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Rayagada for advanced treatment. The SP said the attack appeared to have been triggered entirely by rumours. “Both victims received treatment and have since been discharged from the hospital,” he said.
