13 Years On, Two Convicted In Pramodini Roul Acid Attack Case In Odisha Get 14 Years In Jail

Jagasinghpur: Pramodini Roul, the acid attack survivor of Odisha’s Jagatsingpur, finally got her closure with the court of the assistant sessions judge (Women’s Court) here sentencing her attackers, Santosh Kumar Bedanta and Biswajit Dalsinghray alias Anil, to 14 years of imprisonment.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 on each.

Acid was thrown on Pramodini’s face by Bedanta, an army jawan and resident of Jorgadia village under Bhandaripokhari police limits of Bhadrak district, on May 4, 2009. During his stay at Kanakpur under Tirtol police limits, he apparently developed a love affair with the victim. He attacked Pramodini with acid when she refused to continue with the relationship. He was nabbed from Kolkata in 2017, almost eight years after the attack. The other accused, who rode the motorcycle used for the crime and assisted Bedanta in purchasing acid, was held from Chamagada village under Ranapur police limits of Nayagarh district.

Interestingly, this case was closed in 2012 due to lack of evidence. Jagatsinghpur police, however, sought permission from the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in 2017 to reopen it, following which the court issued a non-bailable warrant against Bedanta, who was then posted in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. He left Kashmir by the time police reached there and was later traced to Kolkata.

The victim sustained severe burn injuries. Her face was disfigured and she was bed-ridden for at least seven years and had almost lost her vision.

Notably, Pramodini got married to her long-time friend Saroj Sahoo in Bhubaneswar in 2021.

Also Read: Happily Ever After For Odisha ‘Chhapaak’ Girl Pramodini Roul

Speaking to the media, Pramodini said expressed dissatisfaction with the punishment given to the two accused. “Though I honour the court’s verdict, they must get stringent punishment and remain in jail throughout their lives,” she said.