Jharaphula Nayak death: Here’s a look at complete sequence of events

Bhubaneswar: 21-year-old Jharaphula Nayak, who was a student of Ramadevi Women’s University and hailed from Marundeipasi village under Jashipur police limits in Mayurbhanj district, was found dead on roadside at Mulapala under Kuakhia police limits in Jajpur district on January 27.

Here’s the sequence of events as per the statement of the accused and her family members.

January 24: Jharaphula boarded a bus in Mayurbhanj to reach Bhubaneswar for attending birthday function of daughter of her teacher Chakradhar Sir. After reaching the capital city, Jharaphula stayed at Chakradhar’s house.

January 25: The birthday function was held at Chakradhar’s house in Mancheswar area of the city. Jharaphula attended the event.

January 26:  Chakradhar dropped Jharaphula at Jaydev Vihar square, where she boarded a private bus to return to the village.

Around 11.10 am, Jharaphula alighted from the vehicle near Vani Vihar after complaining of stomach ache and informed her father Ramakant Nayak over telephone that she would board the next bus.

From Vani Vihar Square, she walked till Rupali Square where her alleged lover Rakesh Swain was waiting for her on a scooter.

At 12.20 PM, Rakesh and Jharaphula reached a fast food shop near Lingaraj Temple Road railway station.

Rakesh ordered a plate of chicken biryani at the eatery and tried to feed a spoon of it to Jharaphula. However, she was unable to consume it and later vomited near the shop. Jharaphula was visibly ill and suffering from stomach ache, the owner of the shop said.

Around 1.05 PM, Jharaphula felt improvement in her health condition, following which she and Rakesh left the place on the two-wheeler.

Around 2 PM, Rakesh and Jharaphula reached OYO Shiv Sai Guest House, Dharma Vihar in Bhubaneswar and checked into the hotel. They stayed at room no. 201 of the hotel.

Around 3 PM, Jharaphula telephoned her father and informed him that she stayed at her friend’s house due to the ailment.

At 6.50 PM, one of Jharaphula’s family members texted the girl asking her to answer their call.

January 27: At 12.35 AM, a reply was sent from Jharaphula’s mobile phone, in which it was mentioned that she was unable to answer the call due to network issues and had stayed at her friend Sonali’s house. However, police during investigation came to know that the reply message was sent by accused Rakesh Swain from Jharaphula’s mobile phone when the two were staying at the hotel.

Rakesh found Jharaphula in an unconscious state at the hotel room in the morning of January 27. He then called up his friend Shekhar. While Shekhar drove the scooter, Rakesh rode pillion making the unconscious girl sit between them. They were spotted leaving the place around 7 AM.

Rakesh initially intended to hospitalise Jharaphula at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. He realised midway that Jharaphula had died.

Rakesh and Shekhar went all the way to Jajpur on the vehicle and dumped the body on roadside around 9 AM.