Paradip: Days after a woman was found dead in Odisha’s Paradip, it was found that she was allegedly raped twice in a day at separate places by her male friend and a stranger and then thrown off a four-storey building leading to her death.
Police have arrested two persons, including the victim’s male friend and another man hailing from Jharkhand after a thorough investigation into the mysterious incident. Based on CCTV footage, witness statements and scientific evidence, police arrested the victim’s male friend, Somanath Ojha, and Shubham Singh, stated to be from Jharkhand.
The two have been booked under various sections of BNS for abduction, rape and murder.
The incident took place on February 22 after the woman left her house located in Tirtol area of Jagatsinghpur district with plans to elope with her boyfriend, who had asked her to come to a temple by promising to marry her. However, he took her to a secluded place, raped her and abandoned her at Rahama bus stand, Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Ankit Kumar Verma told reporters.
When the woman was waiting at the bus stand, Subhan who was heading to nearby Paradip on his motorcycle, saw the hapless woman and offered help. However, he took her to his rented accommodation at a place in Paradip town and raped her again, the SP said.
The accused then threw the woman from the roof of the building, leading to her death. Her body was found the next morning.
The woman’s brother lodged a complaint at Paradip Model police station on February 25, alleging that his sister was raped and murdered on February 22. An unnatural death case was registered on February 23 following the recovery of the woman’s body.
Earlier, in the evening of February 22, the woman’s brother had lodged a missing persons case at Tirtol police station when his sister did not return home.
Meanwhile, BJD supremo and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Naveen Patnaik, condemned the incident and demanded justice for the woman and other victims of recent rape incidents.
“How many more innocent lives will be lost? From underage girls to differently abled young women, no one is safe. So, is the rule of law still in place in the state? The news of heinous crimes coming from Kanhari in Angul, Kuchinda in Sambalpur, and Paradip is deeply disturbing. Chaos everywhere, insecurity all around, O Mother!” he said in an X post.
“While the government delivers long-winded speeches on women’s safety and law and order, the ground reality is extremely alarming. Even in broad daylight, an atmosphere of fear prevails. Despite repeated instances of such deplorable incidents, the government’s failure to take any exemplary, stringent action is emboldening the criminals. The government should take proactive steps to spread awareness on women’s safety and ensure the rule of law is upheld in the state,” Patnaik said.
