Sunil Mohan Patnaik rahmapur

Digapahandipolice arrested a 31-year-old mason on charges of allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman and blackmailing her with intimate photographs and videos. The accused was produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected.

The accused, Shankar Naik alias Saheb of Chintakhali village under Sanakhemundi block, allegedly exploited the woman, who had earlier worked with him as a daily wage labourer at construction sites. Police said he repeatedly threatened her and used secretly recorded intimate images and videos to coerce her into a physical relationship.

According to the complaint, the woman had recently ended all contacts with the accused. On Tuesday afternoon, he allegedly confronted her near an Aahaar Centre at the Digapahandi bus stand, verbally abused her, threatened to upload her private images on social media, and forcibly took her to an under-construction house, where he allegedly raped her.

The woman’s cries for help alerted local residents, who rescued her and shifted her to the Digapahandi Community Health Centre for treatment. Based on her complaint, Digapahandi police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The survivor’s statement was recorded, and both the survivor and the accused underwent medical examination at MKCG Medical College and Hospital. Following the investigation, police arrested the accused and forwarded him to court. The court rejected his bail application and remanded him to judicial custody. Further investigation is in progress.