A 23-year-old woman in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district was allegedly raped twice in one day first by her boyfriend and later by a stranger before being thrown from a four-storey building, leading to her death; two men have been arrested.
In a deeply disturbing incident that has gripped Odisha and drawn national outrage, a young woman was allegedly raped twice in separate locations on 22 February before being killed in Paradip town, police confirmed.
According to Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Ankit Kumar Verma, the woman left her home with her boyfriend after he promised to marry her and asked her to meet him at a temple. Instead, the man identified as Somnath Ojha of Dhinkia took her to a secluded spot, sexually assaulted her and abandoned her later at the Rahama bus stand.
Stranded and vulnerable at the bus stand, the victim encountered another man, Suva Kumar Singh (24) of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, who offered “help” while riding his motorcycle. Police say he then took her to the rooftop of his rented house, raped her again and in a brutal attempt to conceal the crime pushed her off the four-storey building, causing fatal injuries. Her semi-naked body was found the following morning near the building entrance, residents told authorities.
Both accused were soon arrested by Odisha Police and produced before court. Cases have been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including kidnapping, rape and murder, with investigations continuing. Police also seized critical evidence such as the accused men’s mobile phones, the victim’s clothing and the motorcycle used in the crime.
Investigation, Family Response and Official Statements
Police said the victim’s identity was first unestablished when the body was found; local residents were unaware of her background. Only after switching on her phone did officers confirm she was the woman reported missing by her brother at Tirtol police station on the evening of 22 February. A missing person complaint was followed by an unnatural death case registered on 23 February.
In statements to reporters, SP Verma outlined the timeline of events and emphasised the gravity of the crime. He confirmed that both men have confessed to their roles in the assaults and subsequent death. “These are shocking and reprehensible acts. The entire truth will emerge as investigation proceeds,” Verma said. Police sources also said adult content was found on one accused’s phone, which will form part of evidence in court proceedings.
The victim’s family, devastated by the news, has demanded swift justice and a transparent trial. Her brother, who first reported her missing, said the family is grieving and wants those responsible punished to the fullest extent of the law. Local community members have expressed outrage, with several activists calling for better safety measures for women and more accountable policing.
Political Reaction and Broader Concerns
The incident has also prompted political responses. Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the crime and criticised the Odisha government’s handling of safety and law-and-order issues, saying such cases indicate a failure to protect women across the state. “From underage girls to differently-abled young women, no one is safe,” Patnaik said, urging “proactive steps to spread awareness on women’s safety and ensure the rule of law is upheld”.
Analysts and rights groups have pointed out that this case is part of a worrying pattern of gender-based violence in Odisha, with multiple reported incidents in recent months fuelling fear among women. Activists argue that while arrests and prosecutions are essential, deeper structural problems including social stigma, lack of support systems for survivors and insufficient preventive policing must be addressed to curb such crimes.
Legal Framework and Next Steps
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, charges for kidnapping, rape and murder carry stringent penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty in cases deemed “rarest of rare.”
The police have indicated that the case will be pursued with all legal rigor, and special investigators may be involved given the heinous nature of the crime. Court proceedings are expected to be closely watched by women’s rights organisations and civil society, with calls for trial in a fast-track court.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident is not merely a report of crime; it is a stark indictment of how vulnerable individuals continue to suffer unspeakable violence when social protections fail them.
Beyond legal recourse, we must ask uncomfortable questions about societal attitudes towards women’s autonomy, safety in public spaces, and the institutional support available to survivors. Each atrocity chips away at the sense of security that every citizen especially women is entitled to.
