Following the complaint of the father of 19-year-old college student who was found dead in her Kendrapara home, police have now booked her former boyfriend, Pramod Behera, on charges of abetment of suicide.

The investigation began after the victim’s father filed a formal complaint with the Pattamundai (Rural) Police Station. He alleged that Behera had been blackmailing his daughter by threatening to upload intimate photos and videos of her on social media. The father claims this harassment forced his daughter to commit suicide by self-immolation.

The police have booked Behera under Sections 296 (obscene act), 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking), and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the BNS, as well as Sections 66-E and 67-A of the IT Act. Further scrutiny of the case has revealed that the victim had previously approached the police with a complaint against Behera six months ago, but it was allegedly ignored by the then-ASI of the Pattamundai (Rural) Police Station, Saliendra Mohan Palei. Palei has since been transferred to ensure a transparent investigation.

The case has become more complex with conflicting allegations from Behera’s family. His mother and sister have admitted to his relationship with the victim but have denied the blackmail charges. They have instead accused the victim's father of committing an honor killing and intentionally setting his daughter on fire. In response, police have interrogated the victim's father and brother, in addition to her mother, as they continue to investigate all claims to determine the true circumstances of her death.

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