Bhubaneswar, July 21: A disturbing case has emerged from Odisha’s Jajpur district, where a hockey coach and two of his associates have been arrested following allegations of gang rape involving a minor girl.
The incident reportedly took place on the evening of July 3. The survivor, who had been training at the Jajpur Hockey Stadium for the last two years, accused coach Sarthak and his associates, Sandip and Sagar, of abducting her from the street, taking her to a local lodge, and sexually assaulting her.
According to the FIR filed at the Jajpur Town Police Station, the three accused also threatened to kill the girl if she disclosed the incident to anyone.
All three suspects—Sarthak (the coach), Sandip, and Sagar—are currently in police custody. They have been booked under sections 70(2), 351(2), 74, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The survivor has recorded her statement before the district court, and legal proceedings are in progress.
This incident has triggered widespread outrage throughout the district, especially within the sports and child rights communities. Activists and concerned citizens are demanding swift and decisive action against the accused.
