PARADIP: The woman who fell to death from a four-storey house in Tarenigada area on February 23 was raped twice by two different persons before being pushed off the building rooftop, said Paradip police on Friday.
The 23-year-old victim was first raped by her male friend Somanath Ojha of Dhinkia who deserted her after committing the crime. She was later picked up by Suva Kumar Singh (24) of Dhanbad in Jharkhand and taken to the building at Tarenigada. Singh sexually assaulted her there and pushed her off the roof, said Jagatsinghpur SP Ankit Verma.
Police said last Sunday (February 22), the woman went to visit Sarala temple with Ojha. At a secluded location, Ojha allegedly raped the woman and later dropped her at Rahama bus stand before fleeing.
The same night, Singh was returning from Angul on a motorcycle when he found the victim standing alone at Rahama. He brought her to his rented house at Tarenigada and took her to the rooftop where he allegedly raped her. After committing the crime, he pushed her off the roof in an attempt to portray the incident as a case of suicide.
The next day, local residents found the victim’s semi-naked body lying near the gate of the four-storey building. As her dress was stuck on a gas pipeline running along the wall of the house, it was suspected she fell from the building rooftop.
Her identity could not be established then as local residents were unaware of her background. Police seized the body and questioned seven youths including Singh who were living in the house on rent.
During inspection of the building, the woman’s undergarments, clothes, and slippers were recovered from beneath Singh’s bed. Her mobile phone was also found in the kitchen of the house. After switching on the phone, her identity was established, said police.
Police also came to know that on Sunday night, the victim’s brother had lodged a missing complaint in Tirtol police station. After the woman’s identity was ascertained, her family members were informed about the incident.
Subsequently, police registered a case under sections 140(1), 103(1), and 70(1) of the BNS and started investigation. During interrogation, Ojha reportedly confessed to raping the 23-year-old who was pursuing a computer training course after completing her graduation. The accused was in a relationship with the woman and exploiting her on the false promise of marriage.
SP Verma said both the accused were arrested and produced in court. Police have seized the motorcycle used by Singh in the crime and mobile phones of both the accused.