Getting Death Threats, Fake IDs Created On Social Media: Italian Professor Who Runs Ashram In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: An Italian professor, who runs an ashram in Chandanpur in Puri district and works among poor people, has alleged that some people had created fake social media accounts in his name and spreading lies about him and his family. He also alleged that they had threatened to kill him.

The Italian professor, Alfredo Rambhola, who has made Odisha his home for the past 25 years and has worked among the poor in Puri, Berhampur and Kandhamal, alleged that police were yet to lodge a complaint against the accused though he had approached the Puri Cyber Cell and Chandanpur police station several times in the past, which was causing him immense mental distress.

Most recently, he approached police on March 5 with evidence to support his allegations, he said.

Rambhola alleged that the fake social media IDs in his name had been created by a person named Fabrigio Roko Donati, who works at his ashram, Puri’s Bhadra Mandali and a few other people. On these fake IDs, the accused were spreading lies about him, his wife and son, and indulging in his character assassination, he alleged.

They had also threatened to kill him, he further alleged, adding that he was getting threatening messages even on WhatsApp and email.

On Tuesday, Rambhola, who is known among the local people as ‘Arjun Das’ and is married to an Odia, approached Additional SP Mihir Panda with his complaint.

Panda assured that the police would carry out a thorough investigation and take necessary action.

Rambhola has worked among the poor people of Berhampur and Kandhamal before moving to Puri, where he works among the people of Penthakata and Baliapanda slums, helping the poor financially and making them self-sufficient by distributing sewing machines, study material and school uniforms, among others.

He has also helped many poor people suffering from serious diseases.