JAGATSINGHPUR:IN a major breakthrough in the 2009 acid attack case of Pramodini Roul, Tirtol police arrested two accused, including an Army jawan. While the jawan was nabbed from Kolkata on Sunday, the other accused was held from Chamagada village under Ranapur police limits of Nayagarh district.
The main accused, Santosh Kumar Bedanta (36), a resident of Jorgadia village under Bhandaripokhari police limits of Bhadrak district, was posted at Jagatsinghpur on election duty. During his stay at Kanakpur area under Tirtol police limits in 2009, he apparently developed a love affair with the victim, sources said.
However, the victim later refused to continue the relationship, sources added. Irked over the refusal, the accused allegedly attacked Pramodini with acid.
Following the attack, the victim sustained severe burn injuries. Her face was disfigured. She had also lost her vision till she underwent an operation earlier this year. Earlier, Pramodini had shared with ‘The New Indian Express’ how she was bed-ridden for at least seven years. As she stepped out of her house later, she faced social stigma. “People in my neighbourhood used to avoid me. They made me feel as if I were a ghost,” Pramodini said. Bedanta’s associate Biswajit Dalsinghray alias Anil had been accused of riding the motorcycle used for the crime and assisting the accused in purchasing acid. Later, both the accused managed to flee from the spot.
Interestingly, this case was closed in 2012 due to lack of evidence. In 2017, Jagatsinghpur police sought permission from the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) to reopen the case. The SDJM also issued non-bailable warrant against the accused.
The accused was currently posted in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Superintendent of Police JN Pakanj, a team had even visited Srinagar and Kupwara to trace the accused. However, he had left Kashmir by the time police reached there.
Police kept tracking the accused, who was later found hiding in Kolkata. Sources said the accused had confessed to his crime during interrogation. Police had seized the motorcycle used for the attack. Both the accused had been forwarded to the court. Jagatsinghpur police had been in touch with Army officials, Jammu and Kashmir and Kolkata police to get details about the accused.
OHRC directs L2lakh compensation
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission on Sunday directed payment of Rs 2 lakh as compensation to acid attack victim Pramodini Roul. Acting Chairman Justice BK Mishra directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department Asit Tripathy and Collector of Jagatsinghpur to make the payment and report compliance.