Woman Found Dead in Kendrapara; Family Alleges Harassment and Blackmail

Bhubaneswar: A young woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a rented house in Lokapada village, under Aul police station limits in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, late Tuesday night. Police recovered her body, reportedly hanging, and have launched an investigation into what appears to be a case of abetment to suicide.

The deceased, originally a resident of Mahanga in Cuttack district, was working at a private finance company and had been living in Aul for some time. Her family has accused a former colleague of harassment, exploitation, and blackmail, which they claim pushed her to take the extreme step.

According to a written complaint filed with Aul police, the woman previously worked in Chandbali where she met Ajay Kumar Behera, who allegedly professed love and promised to marry her. The family alleges that Ajay took her to various locations, established a physical relationship under false pretenses, and recorded compromising videos. He later used these videos to blackmail her and demand money, even after she changed jobs and relocated to Aul.

The woman reportedly shared details of her mental anguish with her family just a day before her death. Although the family confronted the accused, they refrained from approaching the authorities immediately due to fear of social stigma.

Tragically, around 9:30 PM on Tuesday, the woman was found hanging in her rented accommodation. Her family believes the relentless harassment and emotional trauma drove her to suicide. They have urged police to examine her two mobile phones, which may contain key evidence, including messages and videos related to the case.

While police have yet to release an official statement, the woman’s body has been sent for postmortem. The investigation is ongoing, with the family demanding a thorough probe and stringent action against the accused.