The Sahadevkhunta police on Monday forwarded to court a 35-year-old woman forest guard, who was apprehended on Sunday by them while attempting to commit suicide by self-immolation in front of the residence of the Baleswar Superintendent of Police. The police who were present at the spot following intelligence input seized a petrol-filled container and a matchbox from her possession.
The Forest Guard has alleged that police didn’t take any action on her FIR which she lodged on March 26. Her allegation was that she was sexually exploited for 15 ling years by one of her superior colleagues of the department on the plea of marrying her, yet he didn’t fulfil his promise and on the other handed wanted to kill here by hatching a conspiracy of hit and run. She alleged in her FIR that when she was going by her scooty, such an attempt was made on her life.
“A container filled with petrol and a matchbox were seized from her possession after she was prevented from committing self-immolation. She has been forwarded to court after being booked under Section 309 of IPC,” Sahadevkhunta PS IIC Pragyan Mohanty said.
Allegedly, Ramchandra Behera (52), now a Range Officer in Jharsuguda, had exploited the woman. He also threatened her that he would make public the photographs of their intimate relationships through social media. According to sources, both Behera and the woman are married. Despite having their own families, they developed illicit relationships since 2001 when Behera was a Forester and she was a Forest Guard under the same Forest Range.
“A case is registered under Sections 376, 307 and 506 of IPC on her complaint. Despite a number of raids including at his present serving place Jharsuguda, Telkoi and native place Nilgiri, he (Behera) couldn’t be traced. The Jharsuguda Forest Division is also not aware of his whereabouts. However, efforts are on to nab him soon. The woman alleged she was deceived after being sexually exploited by Behera,” said Nilgiri SDPO SR Mahapatra.