Bhubaneswar: The Kendrapara police have arrested Pramod Behera, the 25-year-old boyfriend of a 20-year-old girl who died after setting herself on fire in Kathiapada village under Pattamundai police station. The arrest was confirmed by Kendrapara Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddhartha Kataria, five days after the girl’s death.
The SP informed that obscene photographs of the victim were recovered from Behera’s mobile phone. Behera had spoken to the girl over the phone moments before the unfortunate incident. On July 17, he had also sent an objectionable video clip of the victim to her father and two others for making it viral, the SP added.
According to the victim’s father, his daughter was in a two-year relationship with Behera, which she ended six months prior to her death. However, Behera allegedly continued to harass and blackmail her, threatening to leak her objectionable videos and photos. This led to her taking the extreme step.
Behera was detained two days ago from Chennai and brought to Kendrapara for further investigation. The police are now awaiting the post-mortem and viscera reports to determine the exact cause of death.
The investigation has taken a serious turn, with the SP assuring a thorough probe and strict action against those found guilty. The victim’s family members and relatives were questioned for the fourth day.
Behera’s family and villagers staged a protest in front of the Pattamundai rural police station, protesting police action. The father of the accused threatened self-immolation in front of the police station.
As a precautionary measure, a fire tender unit has been deployed at the scene to prevent any untoward incidents.
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