Kochi (Keralam), Oct 21 The Keralam police have arrested a 24-year-old man from a Maoist-influenced village in Odisha in connection with a rape case registered in Ernakulam North police station, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Siddhab Gamidanga, a native of Rayagada district in Odisha, allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant at Kaloor and in some hotels here, after befriending her in 2024, they said.
He allegedly took her nude photographs and threatened to circulate them among his friends and on social media, following which she approached the police.
After learning about the case, the accused fled to Odisha, where he was living after marrying another woman, police said.
The investigation team traced him using mobile phone details. His arrest proved challenging as people of village with Maoist influence surrounded the police team.
With the intervention of Odisha police and local representatives, the situation was brought under control, they said.
The accused was produced before a court in Odisha, and the police brought him to Keralam on a transit warrant.
The investigation team was led by Ernakulam North Sub-Inspector Manoj under the supervision of Ernakulam Central ACP C B Tom, with Senior Civil Police Officers (SCPO) Sumesh and Pradeep and Civil Police Officer (CPO) Nisheed as members, police added.
(PTI News)
