A shocking incident has come to light in Odisha’s Bhadrak district, where a youth allegedly set his girlfriend’s house on fire after she refused his marriage proposal, police said.

The incident occurred in Anandpur village under the Dhamnagar block. The accused, Jyoti Ranjan Das, a 28-year-old from Vidyadharpur village, has been missing since the incident. Fortunately, no one was injured, police confirmed.

Man blackmailed her with threats and private pictures

Jyoti was in a relationship with a woman from Gopal Sahi in Anandpur Panchayat. According to the victim, Jyoti had been pressuring her to marry him. When she refused, he allegedly threatened to leak their private pictures and issued death threats.

The problem got worse when Jyoti reportedly set the woman’s house on fire. The fire burnt down five sheds and destroyed everything inside, including gold jewellery, furniture, rice, and important papers. The woman said the damage is worth about ₹15 lakh.

"The accused is a threat to our safety. If not apprehended soon, he might commit further heinous acts," she told reporters, calling for his immediate arrest.

Following the complaint, the Dhamnagar police registered a case and launched an investigation. However, Jyoti managed to flee the area, prompting the victim and her family to demand swift action against him. The police are working to locate the accused, and the investigation is ongoing. Residents of the area are in shock over the incident and are hoping for justice.