The nun, who was allegedly raped during communal violence in Kandhamal, has told the Crime Branch of Orissa police that after the sexual assault, she was saved by a local Hindu man from being gangraped, police said today.

During her examination by the Crime Branch team in New Delhi [Images], the 29-year-old nun said that she was raped at K Nuagaon in Baliguda during Orissa bandh on August 25, the sources said.

Though two others also molested and attempted to rape her immediately after the incident, a local Hindu man came toher rescue and saved her from being gangraped, the nun was quoted to have said in her statement before the Crime Branch team.

Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) Arun Ray confirmed that both the nun and Father Thomas Chelan, only witness to the incident, were examined between 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. According to sources, the nun was confident that she would be able to identify the accused, with whom she had a scuffle.

However, the alleged victim was worried that she might not be able to identify the two others who had also attempted to rape her as she was in a semi-conscious state after being raped, they said.

Expressing her unwillingness to go to Kandhamal again, she urged the Crime Branch team to organise the Test Identification Parade (TIP) of accused persons anywhere in Orissa except Kandhamal, sources said.

Narrating her experience, the nun said that the rape was committed near a stair case of a building, the sources said.

After the incident, she was shocked and completely speechless as her only help Father Chelan was assaulted by the mob, they said.

The examination of the nun and Father Chelan was held nearly three months after the incident as both of them were unwilling to cooperate with the probe saying they had no faith in Orissa police.

However, after the Supreme Court rejected a plea for handing over the case to the CBI and asked the nun to assist the investigation, they agreed to cooperate.

Ten persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and the state government has suspended six police personnel on charges of dereliction of duty on the basis of the allegation made by the nun.

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