Intaliguda, Jul 7: The investigation into the mob assault case at Intaliguda village in Odisha's Rayagada district has made further progress, with police conducting a Test Identification (TI) Parade for the accused on Monday.
The TI Parade was held inside Bisam Cuttack Sub-Jail in the presence of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC). During the exercise, the survivor also recorded her statement before the magistrate and identified several of the accused allegedly involved in the attack.
Earlier, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad had assured that strict action would be taken in the case and that no person found involved in the mob violence would be spared.
Following this, police on Sunday shifted all 24 arrested accused from Rayagada Jail to Bisam Cuttack Jail under tight security arrangements to facilitate the identification process. On Monday morning, the survivor participated in the TI Parade, during which she identified some of the accused. Her statement regarding the incident was also formally recorded before the court.
The mob assault took place on June 16, when a fellow from Delhi working with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and her colleague from Gujarat were travelling from Daringbadi to Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district as part of a fellowship programme in tribal areas.
According to police, the duo was allegedly misdirected by Google Maps and inadvertently entered Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district. During their journey, they were reportedly harassed at several villages, including Dandapadar, Kandulaguda and Sanakuanga in Kalahandi's Lanjigarh block, before facing similar hostility in Pedipadar, Dhamunipanga, Katikinal and Kadabhatta villages in Rayagada.
The situation escalated after rumours spread that the two social workers were child kidnappers. Hundreds of villagers gathered in Intaliguda and Sainagar under Kalyansinghpur Gram Panchayat, where the duo was allegedly attacked by the mob and seriously assaulted.
Police have arrested 24 persons in connection with the incident, while cases have been registered against 50 individuals for their alleged involvement in the mob violence. The investigation is continuing, and police have reiterated that all those found responsible will face legal action.
