crimes rapes murder

Cases of girls died last three years due to rape assault physical abuses

Bebina__A Dalit girl, native of Arjungoda village in Pipili under Puri District was found in a semi-nude and

unconscious state near her house in Arjungoda village of Pipili, on November 29 2011.

While the family members had alleged gang rape and an attempt on her life, the police registered

an FIR on January 9, 2012 after the State Human Rights Commission intervened. The local police

hadn’t registered a case, and the doctors allegedly went for faulty treatment and injected her with

anti-venom serum, saying she was bitten by a poisonous snake.

The incident soon snowballed into a major controversy, and also accounted for a Cabinet Minister

losing his job, an IPS officer being shunted, and a police inspector being dismissed from service. It

was only after the High Court’s intervention that the girl was given proper treatment at a

government hospital, free of cost.

The arrest of the four accused was made a day after the CID-Crime Branch of police released their

photographs.

The 19-year-old Dalit girl died on 21st June 2012, after battling for life in the hospital for more than

five months. She died of septicaemia [blood infection], acute respiratory distress syndrome

[ARDS], and cardiac arrest.

The body of the girl was handed over to her family members in the evening after post-mortem,

which was done under tight security, and in the presence of crime branch police officials, who are

investigating the case.

The District Collector Girish S.N. handed over a cheque for Rs. 10 lakh to the father of the victim,

Babuli Behera, saying that the State government had announced the compensation to the family.

Accepting the government compensation reluctantly, a distressed Babuli said he wasn’t satisfied with the government’s overall handling of the case.

Meanwhile, the crime branch police, which had submitted charge sheets against eight persons in

this case, including attempt to murder charges against two, have decided to file a supplementary

charge-sheet, converting the charges from SeJust two days after the Odisha High Court decided to stop monitoring the treatment of the alleged gang rape victim of Pipili, the doctors at the SCB medical college and hospital here on Thursday announced that the 19-year-old Dalit girl died, after battling for life in the hospital for more than five months.

“The patient, Bebina Behera, who was under treatment here in a critical condition, passed away at 11.15 a.m. on Thursday. She died of septicaemia [blood infection], acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS], and cardiac arrest,” said emergency officer B.N. Moharana.

The body of the girl was handed over to her family members in the evening after post-mortem, which was done under tight security, and in the presence of crime branch police.

Meanwhile, the crime branch police, which had submitted charge sheets against eight persons in this case, including attempt to murder charges against two, have decided to file a supplementary charge-sheet, converting the charges from Section 307 to Section 302 of IPC.

Political parties and social outfits which had been demanding a CBI enquiry, reiterated their demands, adding that all the eight persons against whom charges have been made, including three doctors and a dismissed police inspector, should be arrested.

The Dalit girl was found in a semi-nude and unconscious state near her house in Arjungoda village of Pipili, on November 29 last year.

While the family members had alleged gang rape and an attempt on her life, the local police hadn’t registered a case, and the doctors allegedly went for faulty treatment and injected her with anti-venom serum, saying she was bitten by a poisonous snake.

The incident soon snowballed into a major controversy, and also accounted for a Cabinet Minister losing his job, an IPS officer being shunted, and a police inspector being dismissed from service.

It was only after the High Court’s intervention that the girl was given proper treatment at a government hospital, free of cost.

Mamita Meher murder case: Principal, lecturer arrested for influencing witnesses

 December 01, 2022, Bhawanipatna: In probe into sensational murder case of woman teacher Mamita Meher in Kalahandi district, police today arrested principal and one lecturer of Mahaling Plus 2 College.

Principal Ranjit Sahu and lecturer Kruti Chandan of the Mahaling College were arrested on charges of influencing key witnesses in Mamita Meher murder case.

Both the accused persons were forwarded to a local court, police sources said today.

Mamita Meher, the resident of Jharni village under Turekela block in Balangir district, was working as a teacher at the Sunshine English Medium School at Mahaling in Kalahandi district.

The 24-year-old teacher was killed following her abduction allegedly by the prime accused Govind Sahu in October last year. The accused was the managing committee president of the educational institution.

The murder of the young woman teacher had sent shockwaves across the state.

The opposition parties had targeted the BJD government alleging involvement of Dibya Shankar Mishra, the then Home Minister, with Govind Sahu in the murder case.

According to reports, Mamita Meher went missing on October 8, 2021. Alleging involvement of Govind Sahu behind her missing, Mamita’s family members had lodged a complaint with police. On October 19, bones of Mamita’s body were exhumed from a stadium construction site of the school in the presence of police. In this connection, Govind Sahu was arrested and sent to jail.

During the remand period, Sahu narrated before the investigating police officials as to how he disposed of Mamita’s body after murdering her.

Reportedly, the accused chopped off the body, set it on fire and dumped it under the ground. He also torched her bag, mobile phone and other belongings to eliminate the evidence.

The police at a presser revealed that Mamita had threatened Sahu to expose his extra-marital affairs. To take revenge, Sahu strangled her to death inside his car on October 8, 2021.

Mamita Meher was a teacher at Sunshine English Medium School, Mahaling in Kalahandi district. She had gone missing on October 8, 2021 and her body parts were traced beneath the soil on October 19, 2021. She was reportedly strangulated to death by Gobina Sahu, promoter of the school. 

According to police, Sahu had killed Meher in order to prevent her from revealing his extra marital affairs.

The murder had triggered massive political controversy as the Opposition political parties had alleged that Sahu was a close associate of Dibya Shankar Mishra, former Minister of State for Home in the Naveen Patnaik government and accused him of shielding Sahu.

Despite vociferous demands by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for sacking of Mr. Mishra, Odisha CM had not sacked him. He was subsequently dropped from the Cabinet during normal cabinet reshuffle.

Sahu was alleged to have ended his life inside Kantabanji jail in Balangir district. He was declared dead by doctors. Kantabanji MLA and Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja alleged that he was said to be under tremendous mental pressure as his bail pleas were rejected by Orissa High Court. Trial of Sahu was continuing in Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kantabanji in Balangir district.

Pradeep Maharathy’s resignation comes a day after PM Narendra Modi raised the issue of justice eluding the victim’s family.

BJD sources said with each passing day, he was becoming a liability for Patnaik.

Speaking about the issue of poor record of women safety in Odisha, PM Modi in his public rally at Baripada town of Mayurbhanj district on Saturday had attacked chief minister Naveen Patnaik over the gangrape and murder of the Dalit girl and urged him to get the matter re-investigated. “The system could not give justice to the girl. The government is not taking the matter seriously,” Modi had alleged in his speech.

The 18-year-old girl of Puri district, who had gone out for morning ablutions, was found in a dishevelled state near her village in November 2011. Her family members alleged that local youth Prashant Pradhan and his brother Sukanta Pradhan raped and strangulated her as she refused to marry the former. The strangulation led to severe hypoxia(lack of oxygen supply) in her brain and damaged her cerebrum, sending her into a state of prolonged coma. She died six months later.

The trial court said the prosecution failed to prove the circumstances and could not establish the complete chain of events proving that the two brothers had committed the crime.

Meanwhile, the State CID has announced that it will move Orissa High Court challenging the acquittal of the two accused.

Last month, Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress members had hurled tomatoes and eggs at the residential quarters of Maharathy demanding his ouster from the Cabinet and the BJP women’s wing workers had tried to gherao CM Patnaik’s residence.

“Maharathy has hurt the 4.5 crore people of Odisha with his irresponsible comment. It’s surprising and alarming that a minister of the Naveen Patnaik government, which is vouching for 33 per cent reservation of women in legislative assemblies and Parliament, made such an unacceptable comment,” said Aparajita Sarangi, BJP leader

pari death case+2

The 

Pari murder case refers to the kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old girl named Pari in the Nayagarh district of Odisha, India, in July 2020. The case caused significant political and public outcry in the state. 

Case Background and Investigation:

• Missing & Murder: The minor girl went missing on July 14, 2020, while playing outside her home in Jadupur village.

• Discovery of Remains: Ten days later, on July 23, 2020, her skeletal remains were found in the backyard of her house.

• Investigation: Following the outcry, the case was handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Arun Bothra, which used scientific methods including DNA testing and forensic examinations to identify a suspect.

• Accused: Saroj Sethi was arrested by the SIT for the murder, alleging that he strangled the child when she resisted. 

Tathya +1

Latest Updates (2024-2026):

• Conviction & Sentence: In February 2024, the accused, Saroj Sethi, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹6,000.

• Family's Reaction: Despite the conviction, the victim's parents expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, claiming the "real culprit" was not arrested and that the investigation was flawed.

• Controversy Over Film: As of January 2026, the father of the victim has sought a ban on an Odia film based on the incident, alleging misrepresentation of facts, lack of consent, and that the film falsely portrays the motive. The father maintains his daughter was killed for organ trafficking

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha government to submit a report on outcome of investigation into Itishree Pradhan murder case within eight weeks.

Itishree Pradhan, a female teacher in Rayagada district, was torched to death after the victim unsuccessfully persuaded authorities to give her protection as she was facing sexual harassment at the workplace.

“A report received from the Crime Branch of Odisha Police reveals that investigation of the case is in progress and it has not been concluded so far. Let the Director General of Police, Odisha be asked to send within eight weeks the final outcome of investigation of the CID Crime Branch,” the NHRC said in its direction.

The NHRC issued the direction while hearing a complaint by registered Akhand, managing trustee of the India Media Centre, a non-government organisation.

The murder of the lady teacher became a major political issue considering the fact that the victim had submitted her grievance at all administrative branches, including Chief Minister’s Office, but her grievance was not redressed.

Finally, she was burnt alive under mysterious circumstances. The State police is yet to reach the bottom of the case.

Women rights activists, however, have been demanding a CBI probe into the murder case alleging that since the State government is accused of inaction, attempts would be made to hush up the matter.

Besides, the NHRC reminded the State government on payment of interim relief to family members of the victim.

November 8, 2013 proceeding of NHRC says, Chief Secretary of Odisha government was asked to provide an interim relief of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

“No proof of payment has been received from the State government,” the Commission directed.

“Chief Secretary, Odisha should be reminded to send within eight weeks the proof of payment of interim relief of Rs.5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased,” it said.

Puri Balanga burn case: Minor girl’s AIIMS Bhubaneswar statement leaked online; SP clarifies

A video of a minor girl's statement at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, related to the Puri Balanga burn case, leaked online, prompting a police probe. SP Pinak Mishra clarified the video's context and legal actions underway. The senior police official assured that all evidence, including the source of the leak, will be presented to the judiciary, and strict action will be taken against any individual found responsible for the breach.

Puri Balanga burn case: Minor girl’s AIIMS Bhubaneswar statement leaked online; SP clarifies

A sensitive video believed to be that of Puri Balanga minor girl giving her statement at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she had been undergoing treatment, has gone viral on social media, raising serious privacy concerns

Bhubaneswar: The 15-year-old girl, who succumbed to burns at AIIMS-Delhi on August 2, claimed to have setting herself on fire in her dying declaration, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi told Odisha Assembly on Monday.

According to official records, on July 19, 2025, the wife of Himat Ali of Nuagopalpur in Puri district lodged a complaint at Balanga police station, alleging that unknown persons forcibly took her daughter to Bhargavi riverbed, poured some inflammable substance on her, and attempted to kill her by setting her on fire.

Acting on the complaint, police registered Case No. 162/2025 and began an investigation.

Local villagers found the teenager with severe burn injuries and rushed her to community health centre at Pipili. She was shifted to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar with 75 per cent burns the same day. A day later, she was airlifted to AIIMS-New Delhi and admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery.

Before her death, her statement was recorded by the South District Court No. 37, Saket in New Delhi under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In this statement, the victim declared that she had poured kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze.