Puri: The family of a 23-year-old woman, whose body was found in a guest house at Matiapada of Puri on July 15, alleged today that the victim was raped in the hospitality facility prior to being killed.

“It is not at all a case of suicide; rather, is an apparent case of rape and murder. Talabania police is not conducting proper probe and is trying to suppress the case,” a relative of the woman alleged.

The victim woman identified as Priyanka Behera was working as a nurse in Sakhigopal locality. Priyanka, who belonged to Chandanpur of the district, was found dead while hanging in ‘Fakir Guest House’ under mysterious circumstances a day after she left her parental house for elsewhere, a source said.

The body of Priyanka was recovered by some staff of the guest house by breaking open the door of a room in which she was found hanging. However, the presence of a Magistrate and local police was not sought. A probe team of Talabania police has recently arrested a male friend of Priyanka.

The man arrested in connection with the case has been identified as Sagar Patra from Puri district.

“As this is a pre-planned murder, we will move Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and also meet Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanwar Vishal Singh seeking justice,” the family said.

“We belong to the scheduled caste (dalit) and if we will not get justice here, then, we will knock the door of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes,” the bereaved family reiterated.