A 26-year-old woman engineer has allegedly been sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a masked man inside her rented apartment in the Nayapalli area of Bhubaneswar on the night of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, police said on Thursday. The accused is still unidentified, and police have started a search to trace him.Key HighlightsThe alleged incident took place on the night of September 30, 2026.The 26-year-old woman lives in a rented apartment in the Nayapalli police station area.The attacker allegedly entered the house wearing a mask and threatened her with a gun.Police are checking CCTV footage and other evidence to identify the accused.What Happened in Bhubaneswar?According to the complaint, the woman was inside her rented home when a masked man allegedly entered the apartment. He reportedly threatened her with a gun and sexually assaulted her.The woman lives in the apartment with her elder sister. Police said the sister was not present at the time of the alleged incident, although officers are checking the exact circumstances. The apartment owner lives on another floor of the building.After the alleged incident, the woman approached Nayapalli Police Station and filed a complaint. Police officers then visited the location and began collecting evidence.Police Search for AccusedThe accused has not been officially identified or named by the police as of October 1. Therefore, his name, age, village and other personal details have not been confirmed.Police are examining CCTV cameras installed around the apartment and nearby areas. Investigators are also working to establish how the masked man entered the house and where he went after the alleged crime.Some local reports have mentioned that police were questioning a suspect, but the identity and involvement of any such person have not been officially confirmed in the reports available. The case therefore remains under investigation.What Police SaidBhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M said senior police officers had visited the spot and that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend the accused. He also said investigators were checking whether the victim's sister was present when the alleged incident happened.“Whether the victim’s sister was present at the time of the incident is under investigation,” DCP Saravana Vivek M said.Investigation UnderwayThe police are now examining CCTV footage and other available evidence. The victim's statement and other investigative findings will be important in establishing the sequence of events.The alleged incident has raised concern in the Nayapalli area. However, the investigation is still at an early stage, and the allegations against the unidentified accused have not yet been tested in court.Police are continuing efforts to identify and arrest the person allegedly involved.
