Umerkote/Raighar: A young woman from Raighar block in Nabarangpur district, who attempted suicide by consuming poison after her photos went viral, died Saturday afternoon while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, hospital officials said. The autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, they added.
Following her death, Opposition leaders have targeted the state government. Former Nabarangpur MP and BJD leader Pradeep Kumar Majhi blamed the state administration’s inaction and police negligence for the incident, saying timely intervention could have prevented the suicide attempt. He alleged that cases of violence against women are rising daily because the government is not taking strict action against offenders. He demanded measures to prevent such incidents in the undivided Koraput district and sought Rs 1 crore in compensation for the victim’s family.
Congress leader Sanraj Gond also demanded compensation and warned of statewide protests if strict laws against violence on women are not enacted and justice is not delivered to the victim’s family. According to reports, the victim was a second-year BSc Nursing student at a college in Jeypore, Koraput district. Satyajit Sarkar, a man from a neighbouring village, was allegedly infatuated with her. When she rejected his advances, he reportedly assaulted her in Jeypore July 13 and circulated photos and videos of her with a male friend. Humiliated, the woman consumed pesticide July 17. She was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar July 24, where she died. Raighar police later arrested Satyajit from Daspalla and the woman’s male friend from Jeypore in connection with the case.
