Odisha: Sexual Assault Survivors Kill Accused, Burn His Body; 8 Women Arrested

The case reveals the complex problems that arise when victims feel they have no other way to seek justice. Police arrested a total of 10 people, including eight women and a village ward member, after the incident came to light through a missing person complaint.

Women Kill Alleged Sexual Abuser, Burn Body in Odisha's Gajapati

The deadly confrontation took place on the night of June 3, 2025 when 60-year-old Kambi Malik allegedly raped a 52-year-old widow in Kuihuru village. This latest assault became the final trigger for a group of women who had suffered similar attacks from the same man over the years.

"The incident took place on the night of June 3 when the man had allegedly raped a 52-year-old widow in the village," said Basant Sethi, officer-in-charge of Mohana police station. He explained that some women, including victims of previous sexual assaults, held a meeting afterwards and decided to kill the accused.

The women went to Malik's house, where he was sleeping. "They went to his house, where he was sleeping, and the 52-year-old widow hacked the man to death with the help of other survivors. Two men had also assisted the women," Sethi said. After killing him, the group burned his body to destroy evidence.

Police Investigation and Discovery

The case only came to police attention five days later when Malik's family filed a missing person complaint at Mohana Police Station. His family had been searching for him without success, not knowing what had happened.

"We came to know that the man was hacked to death and his body was subsequently burnt," Sethi explained to reporters. Police launched a thorough search based on the missing person report and eventually found the remains.

Police recovered the bones and ashes from a hillock near a forest area, located about 2 kilometres from the village. The remote location showed the group's attempt to hide their actions from authorities and the community.

Kambi's daughter, Sundari Malik, described the family's desperate search. "We searched for my father but couldn't find him. Today, a girl child informed me that he had been murdered, and his body was near the riverbank. My brother and I went searching and found his half-burnt body in the forest," she said.

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The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual violence that had continued for years. Malik had become a widower four years ago, and police say he had allegedly sexually assaulted several women in the village since then.

"The accused had become a widower four years ago and had allegedly sexually assaulted several women of the village since then," Sethi said. The officer explained that at least six of the arrested women told police they had been victims of sexual assault by the man.

"At least six of the arrested women confided that they had been victims of sexual assault by the man," Sethi said. He added that the women took this extreme step to put an end to such repeated incidents in their community.

Residents revealed that tension had been building in the village for a long time over Malik's alleged behaviour. He was accused of sexually assaulting several women in the community, particularly targeting widows and elderly women who he thought were more vulnerable.

Police have registered a murder case and continue investigating to understand all the details and reasons behind the killing. The eight women now face serious criminal charges despite their claims of being victims themselves.

The case raises difficult questions about justice and what happens when formal systems fail to protect vulnerable people. While the law does not allow people to take justice into their own hands, the circumstances show the desperation these women felt after years of alleged abuse without help.

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