Sexual assault survivors kill accused

 

Sumesh Rajan | 16 June 2025

Gajapati, Odisha, INDIA: The police in the eastern Indian state of Odisha have arrested eight women following the death of a 60-year-old man who was allegedly killed and partially burned in connection with ongoing allegations of sexual abuse against him.

The incident, which took place in Kuihuru village in Gajapati district, came to light several days after the man, identified as Kambi Malik, was reported missing on June 2. His family filed a complaint after his disappearance, prompting a police investigation. On June 7, officers discovered his half-burnt body in a wooded area roughly two kilometers from the village.

According to police, one of the detained women reportedly confessed that she attacked Malik with a sharp weapon after he allegedly assaulted her while she was home alone. “I didn’t speak about it initially. Later, I attacked him when he was asleep on his verandah,” she said during questioning.

Local accounts suggest that Malik had long been accused of sexually exploiting women in the village, particularly widows and older women. Despite warnings from residents, he allegedly continued his abusive behaviour. Fear of stigma and social repercussions is believed to have discouraged victims from speaking out publicly.

Malik was also rumoured to be involved in occult practices and posed as a traditional healer, adding to the atmosphere of fear and suspicion surrounding him in the community.

The case has sparked broader conversations about access to justice in rural areas of India, where victims of sexual violence often face barriers in reporting abuse. Police have registered a murder case and confirmed that eight women were taken into custody. The suspects appeared in court and remain under investigation.

“The accused had on-going illicit relationships with some widowed women in the village,” said a local police inspector. “Eight women have been arrested in connection with the murder. The investigation is continuing.”

The incident underscores the growing frustration in some rural communities where perceived inaction by authorities has led to acts of vigilante justice.