Woman attempts suicide in front of Odisha State Police Headquarters

Cuttack: On Wednesday, a woman allegedly tried self-immolation in front of the Odisha DGP's office in Cuttack by pouring kerosene on her body, accusing the police of being unconcerned about her charge of blackmailing against a journalist.

The woman, who is thought to be from the Rajkanika area of Kendrapada district, was apprehended by police before she could take any more action, according to sources.

She said she had filed many police reports after a TV channel journalist blackmailed her by threatening to make public her indecent films and images.

However, despite repeated demands for action on her complaint, the woman claims that authorities have taken no action against the journalist.

She further claimed that the journalist based in Pattamundai, Kendrapada, threatened to make her images and videos public if she continued to seek legal action against him.

She accused the police of protecting and shielding the TV journalist, claiming that she was threatened, harassed, and even assaulted in the presence of top police officers.

The woman claimed she had also sought top police officers asking action, but that all of her appeals had gone unanswered because the police had been 'apathetic' to her accusation.

She claimed she was forced to take the severe step of ending her life because she had no other choice. "There was no other way. "I was compelled to come here to commit suicide," she explained.

While senior police officials were unavailable for comment, sources indicated an investigation is already underway and efforts are being made to locate the accused journalist.