In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves across Odisha, P.D. Sangita, a final-year Arts student at Badapada College in Pattamundai, Kendrapara district, took her own life on August 6, 2025. The tragic event has unveiled a complex web of allegations, with the police investigation pointing to her former boyfriend, Pramod Behera, as the prime suspect.
Sangita, a resident of Kathiapada village under Badapada Panchayat, allegedly set herself ablaze after dousing herself with kerosene while her parents were away in Patrapur. The case, which has gripped the state, took a significant turn when police arrested Pramod Behera, a resident of Terohi village under Bilikana Panchayat, from Chennai. Following his detention, authorities recovered compromising photos and videos of the deceased from his mobile phone, which he allegedly sent to Sangita’s father and two others on July 17. Based on evidence and preliminary investigations, Pattamundai police have charged Behera under serious sections and produced him before the local court on August 10, 2025. The investigation is being closely monitored by Kendrapara SP Siddharth Kataria.
The deceased’s father, Sashikant Parida, lodged a written complaint on August 9 at the Pattamundai Rural Police Station, accusing Behera of mentally harassing and blackmailing his daughter, leading to her suicide. CCTV footage from the village reportedly shows people moving around during the incident, adding layers to the ongoing probe. However, Behera’s arrest has sparked outrage among his family and villagers.
Over a hundred residents from Terohi village, including men and women, staged a protest outside the Pattamundai Rural Police Station, claiming Behera’s innocence. His parents, Ganeshwar and Shantilata Behera, filed a counter-complaint, alleging that Sangita’s family falsely implicated their son and even claimed that her parents were responsible for her death. The protesters demanded a thorough investigation and Behera’s release, withdrawing their demonstration only after police assured a fair inquiry.
The case has ignited public outcry, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) demanding that the investigation be handed over to the Crime Branch, citing alleged negligence by the local police administration.
As the postmortem report and further investigations are awaited, the truth behind Sangita’s tragic death remains shrouded in mystery, leaving a grieving community and a state seeking justice.
