Woman Engineer Raped Inside Apartment

A 26-year-old woman engineer was allegedly sexually assaulted at gunpoint by an unidentified masked man inside her rented apartment in Bhubaneswar’s Nayapalli area, police said. The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday night, triggering an investigation by the Commissionerate Police.

According to police, the woman, who is from Jagatsinghpur district and works for a private company, was staying with her elder sister. The accused allegedly entered the apartment and threatened her with what appeared to be a gun or toy gun before committing the alleged assault. Senior police officials, including Bhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M, visited the location. The victim’s statement has been recorded, her medical examination is underway, and police are examining CCTV footage from the apartment and surrounding areas to identify the suspect.

The incident has triggered concern among local residents, who have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, strict punishment and increased police patrolling in the area. The case also comes amid wider concerns over crimes against women in Odisha. According to figures presented by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the Assembly, 1,606 rape cases and 21,069 cases involving various crimes against women were registered in the state between January 1 and July 31, 2026.