A 48-hour intense investigation into the shocking Nayapalli sexual assault case culminated in a police encounter on Saturday, leaving the prime accused injured.
The accused, identified as 24-year-old Sreedhar Panda alias Santosh, was shot in self-defense by the police after he attempted to attack officers with a screwdriver during a raid in the Chandaka area on the outskirts of the state capital.
The Crime and the Fake Weapon Strategy
According to Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, the incident occurred last Wednesday when Panda broke into a home in Behera Sahi, Nayapalli, initially intending to commit burglary.
Upon encountering a young female resident alone in the house, the suspect brandished an object resembling a pistol to intimidate her. Investigators later revealed that the “gun” was merely a pistol-shaped lighter. Believing the firearm to be real, the terrified victim was coerced, after which the accused allegedly sexually assaulted her before fleeing the premises.
Following the crime, the suspect undertook a multi-stage escape route using an ‘Ama Bus’ (public transport), an auto-rickshaw, and later a stolen motorcycle to evade tracking.
300+ CCTV Cameras and Tech Intel: The Track Down
The Commissionerate Police formed a Special Squad alongside the Nayapalli police team to apprehend the perpetrator. A massive operation involving around 100 personnel analyzed technical data and scrutinized footage from over 300 CCTV cameras across the capital city.
The tracking team traced Panda’s movement to a secluded spot in the Chandaka police station area on Saturday.
Retaliatory Firing in Self-Defense
When police personnel moved in to detain the suspect, Panda turned aggressive and attempted to stab a Sub-Inspector from the Nayapalli police station with a screwdriver. Faced with immediate danger, police opened two rounds of retaliatory fire in self-defense.
Panda sustained two bullet injuries to his left leg and lower body, effectively neutralizing him. He was immediately rushed under police guard to Capital Hospital for medical treatment.
“The suspect is a habitual offender with prior criminal records involving mobile phone thefts and burglaries across Khandagiri and Tamando police jurisdictions,” stated Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh. “Formal arrest procedures will be completed once medical authorities deem him fit for discharge.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police revealed that medical examinations and forensic profiling of both the victim and the accused are underway. Investigators are also probing whether the accused had any prior acquaintance with the victim or if the break-in was a purely opportunistic crime.
