In a disturbing incident that has again raised serious concerns about women’s safety in Odisha’s capital, a young woman was harassed and her mobile phone forcibly snatched near AG Square, Bhubaneswar, late Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred around 8:30 PM, when the woman was walking alone from Forest Park to AG Square. As per the complaint filed at Capital Police Station, the attacker — later identified as Dillip Dalai — suddenly approached her, snatched her mobile phone, and proceeded to misbehave with her.
Terrified, the woman began screaming for help, which caught the attention of nearby pedestrians and locals. They rushed to the scene and intervened, helping the woman escape the assailant.
The woman immediately filed a complaint, following which Capital Police arrested Dillip Dalai on the same night. Police have registered a case, and the accused is currently undergoing interrogation.
“He will be forwarded to court once the initial procedures are complete,” said a police official.
This incident in Bhubaneswar came barely 24 hours after a similar harassment and robbery case in Puri, where three sisters returning from the Jagannath Temple were targeted by six men near a dimly-lit bus parking zone. The youths snatched gold chains and handbags, and misbehaved with the women before fleeing the scene.
As public outrage grows, this incident yet again puts the spotlight on the urgent need for systemic reform, accountability, and community vigilance to safeguard women in public spaces.
