Bhubaneswar: Nayapalli police in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar have arrested a businessman for allegedly flashing and making obscene gestures toward women and minor girls during their morning walks in the area, following multiple complaints from terrified residents.
The accused, identified as Asis Behera, was taken into custody late last night after a victim recently filed a complaint detailing a disturbing encounter near CRP Square. Police acted swiftly on the complaint, corroborated by CCTV footage, leading to his identification and arrest. He was later produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
According to the victim’s account, the incident occurred in the early hours of June 29. The young woman, who had arrived in Bhubaneswar by bus around 6.30 am and alighted near CRP Square was walking toward the square when a man on a Bullet motorcycle approached her. Wearing a mask and helmet, he politely called out “Excuse me,” prompting her to come closer, assuming he needed directions or help near the bus stand. Instead, the man allegedly engaged in indecent conversation, used abusive language, exposed himself, and made vulgar gestures. Terrified and fearing abduction, the woman screamed for help, fled the spot, and later returned to her relative’s house before lodging a formal complaint at Nayapalli police station. She subsequently saw the man’s photo on social media, where commenters identified him as a repeat offender who had been mentally harassing women in the locality.
Police sources noted that this was not Behera’s first offence. He was previously arrested by Saheed Nagar Police for similar acts of harassment and was released on bail.
