The Nilgiri police in Baleswar district have arrested three Forest Department employees for allegedly attempting to rape a 40-year-old woman at Tenda village on Friday night.
According to reports, four forest staffs, identified as Anjan Das, Ganeswar Biswal, Khudiram Singh and Muskan Singh, allegedly tried to rape the woman at around 12 midnight while she was sleeping along with her minor daughter on a scaffold to keep a watch on her paddy crops.
The woman raised an alarm, following which the accused fled. Hearing the woman screaming, villagers reached the spot.
The villagers then gheraoed the nearby Tenda forest beat house and caught hold of three of the accused while Muskan Singh managed to escape. The villagers tied the trio to a tree and informed the police about the matter. The three were later arrested.
Investigation into the incident is underway on the basis of a complaint lodged by the woman’s family. Medical examination of the woman and the accused were conducted, police sources said.
On the other hand, Kuldiha Forest Range Officer laxman Pradhan refuted the allegations. “Animal meat was seized from the woman’s house yesterday. Searching for her husband, the forest staffs had gone near the scaffold. Realising the absence of her husband at the spot, they returned,” the official said.