A married woman, who was gangraped and assaulted by three youths on the night of February 1 on the outskirts of Rourkela, died at Sundargarh on the way to the VSS Medical College Hospital at Burla on Wednesday night. The victim and her inebriated husband had a quarrel at their house at Nayabazar under the Plant Site police station on February 1 night. The victim left the house at around 8.15 pm.
On her way to Bondamunda, the victim was overpowered by three youths who took her to a secluded place and took turns to rape her. When she threatened to inform the police about it, they assaulted her mercilessly and fled the area. When the victim did not return to her house, the family members launched a frantic search and found her lying unconscious at the spot the next morning.
The victim was later rushed to the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH). As her condition deteriorated on Wednesday, she was referred to the VSS Medical College Hospital, but she died on the way. Prior to her death, she, after regaining conscious at the RGH, had alleged that two youths, Raju Mukhi (31) and Japani Munda (26), of the Nayabazar area who had raped her.
Acting on her information, police arrested the duo on Tuesday and later nabbed another person, Tudu Gope (26), of Nayabazar on Wednesday night.The three accused have been remanded to judicial custody, said police.