<p>Three girls were allegedly gang-raped in Odisha's Kalahandi district when they were returning home after watching a jatra, police said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The incident happened on the night of April 16, but a complaint was filed at the Bijepur police station on Wednesday night after the families of the girls came to know about it, they said.</p>.<p>The girls were returning home after watching a jatra or folk theatre when five men stopped them, and allegedly took turns in raping them, police said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/man-found-dead-along-with-his-two-wives-in-odishas-bargarh-1211026.html" target="_blank">Man found dead along with his two wives in Odisha's Bargarh</a></strong><br /><br />An investigation is underway to identify the accused, and they will be caught soon, Bijepur police station's inspector-in-charge Lingaraj Sethy said</p>.<p>The area has a significant Maoist presence, and the terrain is hilly and has forests, he said.</p>.<p>The girls initially hesitated to tell their families about the incident, but after their parents came to know about it, they filed a police complaint.</p>.<p>The girls were taken to the Bhawanipatna Government Hospital for medical examination on April 20, police said.</p>
<p>Three girls were allegedly gang-raped in Odisha's Kalahandi district when they were returning home after watching a jatra, police said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The incident happened on the night of April 16, but a complaint was filed at the Bijepur police station on Wednesday night after the families of the girls came to know about it, they said.</p>.<p>The girls were returning home after watching a jatra or folk theatre when five men stopped them, and allegedly took turns in raping them, police said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/man-found-dead-along-with-his-two-wives-in-odishas-bargarh-1211026.html" target="_blank">Man found dead along with his two wives in Odisha's Bargarh</a></strong><br /><br />An investigation is underway to identify the accused, and they will be caught soon, Bijepur police station's inspector-in-charge Lingaraj Sethy said</p>.<p>The area has a significant Maoist presence, and the terrain is hilly and has forests, he said.</p>.<p>The girls initially hesitated to tell their families about the incident, but after their parents came to know about it, they filed a police complaint.</p>.<p>The girls were taken to the Bhawanipatna Government Hospital for medical examination on April 20, police said.</p>