Accused Ex-Boyfriend Faced Charges for Aiding in the Student's Suicide in Odisha
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the Kendrapara police have arrested Pramod Behera, an ex-boyfriend, for his alleged role in the suicide of a 19-year-old college student. The victim, a final-year political science student, ended her life by self-immolation on August 6, 2025, following months of mental and sexual harassment.
According to the police, Behera mentally and sexually harassed the victim, threatened to upload her intimate videos on social media, and blackmailed her through obscene video clips. These actions, which began after the victim ended their relationship, led to the student's distress and eventual tragic end.
The police have recovered multiple obscene videos from Behera's phone and have charged him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act, including sections related to obscene acts (296), sexual harassment (75), stalking (78), abetment of suicide (108), and IT Act provisions 66-E and 67-A.
The victim's family has alleged that Behera forced her to commit suicide by setting her on fire with inflammable substances when no one was there at their house. However, Behera's family claims that he is innocent and has been intentionally dragged into the case.
The victim's charred body was found on the staircase of her house. The police have interrogated the victim's father and brother, based on the Behera family's allegation, and have also spoken to the victim's mother.
The then ASI of Pattamundai (Rural) Police Station, Saliendra Mohan Palei, has been transferred from the police station to facilitate a transparent investigation into the matter. The victim had approached the police with her complaint months before, but it was reportedly ignored by Palei.
This incident is part of a grim pattern of women dying by self-immolation in Odisha recently. The police are urging anyone who has experienced similar harassment to come forward and report it, in an effort to prevent such tragic outcomes.
[1] India Today
[2] The New Indian Express
[3] The Times of India
[4] The Hindu
[5] The Indian Express
- The victim's traumatic experience, which included mental and sexual harassment, threats of social media exposure, and blackmail, was covered in detail by various news outlets such as India Today, The New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindu, and The Indian Express.
- In addition to general news, this unfortunate incident also highlighted the role of social media in damaging relationships, as the ex-boyfriend allegedly threatened to upload intimate videos of the victim online.
- The impact of this incident on the victim's lifestyle and relationships, and the broader societal implications, have become fodder for discussion and debate in the entertainment and lifestyle sections of newspapers and digital platforms.
