News Flash Daily
1 March 
A chilling chain of sexual assault and murder in Jagatsinghpur exposes grave lapses in women’s safety, prompting political outrage and police action
Jagatsinghpur: A young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted twice and murdered within hours, first by her lover, who had promised marriage, and later by a stranger who pretended to help her. The incident has sent shockwaves across Odisha, raising serious concerns over women’s safety and law enforcement vigilance.
Lured by the Promise of Marriage
According to police sources, the incident dates back to February 22, when the woman left her home after her boyfriend invited her to meet him at a temple, expressing his intention to marry her. Trusting his assurance, she decided to elope with him. Instead, he allegedly took her to a deserted location, where he sexually assaulted her, and later abandoned her near a bus stop, investigators said.
Second Assault Under the Guise of Help
While the victim was sitting alone at the bus stop, a man riding a motorcycle approached her and offered help. Police allege that the man, a native of Jharkhand, misused her vulnerability and took her to the rooftop of his rented house in Paradip, where he raped her again.
“The accused then pushed the woman from the rooftop, leading to her death. The body was recovered the next morning,” senior police officer Ankit Kumar Verma.
Body Found, Probe Intensified
As the woman failed to return home on the evening of February 22, her brother filed a missing persons complaint. On February 23, her body was recovered, and an unnatural death case was initially registered. Subsequently, on February 25, the brother lodged a fresh complaint alleging rape and murder, following which police launched a detailed investigation.
Arrests Made, Charges Filed
Police officials confirmed that both accused have been arrested and booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of kidnapping, rape, and murder. Authorities stated that further investigation is ongoing to establish the complete sequence of events.
Political Reaction and Public Outrage
Condemning the incident, Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal and Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, demanded strict justice for the victim. He expressed grave concern over the deteriorating safety of women in the state.
Despite repeated assurances and speeches by the government on women’s safety and law and order, the ground reality remains deeply alarming, with fear prevailing even during daytime hours, he said. Police reiterated that the case remains under active investigation.
