Stepmom, father held for torturing minor siblings in Odisha’s Cuttack district

Bhubaneswar: The police today arrested a woman on charges of torturing her two stepchildren in Athagarh area of Odisha’s Cuttack district.

The police have also arrested the victims’ father in connection with the incident, sources said

As per the allegations, Sunil Kumar Nanda of Parthpur in Banki area had tied the knot with Suhasini of Chandpur in Khurda district in 2008. The couple was blessed with three children.

In the meantime, marital dispute ensued between the couple and Sunil opted for a second marriage. Without any support from Sunil, Suhasini was forced to return to her native place with her youngest daughter. However, the couple’s first two children, a son and a daughter, were left with Sunil, who shifted to a rented accommodation at Solagharia near Athagarh.

Sunil’s second wife Puspalata Nanda allegedly tortured the minor siblings brutally on October 30. The locals rescued the siblings and rushed them to a nearby hospital in a critical condition, police said.

“We had registered a case in this regard as per a complaint lodged by the biological mother of the two children yesterday. The stepmother of the two children along with their father was today arrested in connection with the case,” said Athagarh police IIC Aniruddha Muduli.

The police have registered a case in this regard under Sections 342, 294, 323, 325 and 307 of the IPC, added the IIC.