Guest Lecturer Found Dead in Keonjhar: Live-in Partner Arrested on Murder Charges

Priyanka Das, originally from Talapada village in Balasore district, had been working as a guest faculty in the Home Science department at Keonjhar Government Women’s College for the past two years. She was residing in a rented house near Nirmala Convent School on Mining Road, where she reportedly shared the premises with Rudranarayan Mishra (45), a local resident and treasurer of the Keonjhar District Truck Owners’ Association.

According to the complaint filed by Priyanka’s brother, Hemendra Prasad Das, at Keonjhar Town Police Station, Mishra called the family on Tuesday morning, identifying himself as a professor and claiming that Priyanka had suddenly fainted while handing over room keys and was declared dead at the hospital.

Upon rushing to Keonjhar Medical College and Hospital, the family noticed injury marks and bruises on her neck, leading them to allege that she was strangled to death. They accused Mishra of the murder, stating that Priyanka had previously confided about him persistently pursuing her.

Police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (case no. 974/2025) and arrested Mishra while he was allegedly attempting to flee in a car. The vehicle was seized near Biju Patnaik Square in Keonjhar town after a chase.

Sources indicate that Priyanka had been in a live-in relationship with Mishra for several months, though the family was reportedly unaware or opposed to it. The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the area, especially as Priyanka was on leave the previous day.

Post-mortem examination is underway to determine the exact cause of death, and further investigation is ongoing.