A man has been arrested in Balasore district, Odisha, for allegedly attempting to rape the wife of an assistant professor at Fakir Mohan University. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the professor's official residence on the university campus.
The accused, identified as Shankar Patra from the Nilgiri area in Balasore district, gained entry to the residence by posing as an LPG cylinder mechanic. He reportedly rang the doorbell, and when the woman answered, he offered to conduct a routine check of the LPG cylinder in the kitchen.
Once inside the house, Patra allegedly locked the door and attempted to assault the woman. According to a complaint filed by the professor with the Remuna police station, the accused tried to grab the woman. However, the woman managed to escape and lock herself in another room. She then called her husband and screamed for help.
Security personnel stationed at the colony gates responded to the woman's cries and rushed to the house. They managed to overpower the accused and handed him over to the police. Remuna police have registered a case and taken Patra into custody, and he will be forwarded to court. Police are investigating how Patra gained access to the secure residential area and his motives.
Dr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, stated that an LPG gas cylinder was scheduled to be delivered to the assistant professor's quarters. When the woman answered the door, she inquired if he was the delivery boy, and the man responded affirmatively. She opened the door and went inside to get cash, at which point the accused entered the house and "began to behave inappropriately".
The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about campus security, particularly in the official quarters and women's hostels. This incident follows other controversies surrounding Fakir Mohan College, intensifying debates about women's safety on educational campuses.
