A 19-year-old college student in Odisha’s Kendrapara district allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday after her former boyfriend threatened to share intimate photos of her on social media. The family of the deceased has accused the local police of refusing to register a complaint months ago, which they claim could have prevented the tragedy.
The incident occurred in Kathiapada village, under the jurisdiction of Pattamundai (Rural) police station. According to her father, the student, an undergraduate at Mohanpur College, immolated herself when she was alone at home, news agency PTI reported.
Father Alleges Police Refused FIR
The victim’s father claimed he had approached the police six months earlier to file a complaint against the ex-boyfriend. He alleged that a police officer, identified as Sailendra Palei, had discouraged him from filing the FIR and instead suggested they block the accused’s number.
“I had gone to Pattamundai (Rural) police station around six months ago to file a complaint over her former boyfriend’s threat to upload her intimate photographs on social media. I had given a copy of the complaint to one police officer named Sailendra Palei. However, he discouraged me against it, stating it was better not to file a complaint and suggested that we block the phone number of the ex-boyfriend,” the father alleged, as quoted by PTI.
He added, “Had prompt action been taken, my daughter would not have died by suicide.”
When questioned about the matter, the father said he had destroyed the copy of the complaint after police allegedly refused to accept it.
Odisha Police Deny Father’s Allegations, SP Promises Probe
Denying the allegation, Sailendra Palei said, “I did not receive any FIR, and the woman’s father had never come to our police station. I never suggested anyone block any phone number.”
Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria, who visited the village, stated, “The woman’s father claimed that she died by suicide. The matter will be investigated. I will also personally inquire into the father’s allegation against Palei.”
String of Similar Tragedies in Odisha
This is the third case in Odisha involving young women dying from burn injuries since July. On July 12, a 20-year-old student of FM College in Balasore died two days after setting herself on fire on campus. On August 2, a 15-year-old girl from Puri district’s Balanga area also succumbed to burn injuries. While her mother alleged that three unidentified men set her on fire, police stated no one else was involved.
Opposition Targets BJP Govt Over Odisha’s Law and Order
The incident has triggered political criticism of the BJP-led state government. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, addressing a press conference, said, “It is not acceptable that the police would not accept the FIR of the victim. We urge the chief minister to hand over the Home portfolio to some other minister, as he is unable to handle it.”
Mohanty further said, “Though the CM had earlier asked police to register zero FIR, the police stations are not adhering to the order.” He added that had strict action been taken against the police in the earlier Balasore and Balanga cases, such negligence would not have been repeated.
Meanwhile, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das has formed an eight-member women’s fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. Headed by PCC vice-president Sasmita Behera, the panel is scheduled to visit the victim’s village and the concerned police station on Thursday, the party said in a statement.
