One of the accused in police custody in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Sept. 21: Police today arrested the 24-year-old man who had allegedly thrown acid on the face of a 22-year-old woman at Badanaukana village on September 6.

The woman had spurned his advances, which had angered him enough to commit the crime, cops said.

Alekh Mandal was picked up from a village in Bengal. Another man, who had allegedly abetted the crime by helping Mandal flee, has also been arrested, the police said.

“The offender was nabbed from Baunsagada village in East Midnapore district of Bengal. We picked him up from his relative’s house with the help of Khejuri police in Bengal,” said Kendrapara police chief Rabi Narayan Behera.

The accused, who was brought today to Kendrapara, has confessed to the crime. He told the police that he had committed the crime in a fit of rage as she had turned down his advances.

“The victim, who had received about 40 per cent burn injuries, is recovering. She is out of danger. We have her recorded statement,” Behera said.

Mandal, a self-styled physician, had a roaring practice at Badanaukana village in Rajnagar police limits. After the attack, he had fled to Shailendranarayanpur village in Rajnagar where one Bhanu Das had provided him shelter. Later, he went to Dhamra in Bhadrak district and then went to Calcutta by a private bus.

From Calcutta, he went to Baunsagada village in Khejuri police limits, where his relatives stayed.

The unsuspecting relatives let Mandal stay with them as they had no inkling about what he had done back in Odisha, said the police.

“We sought the help of the Bengal police after we found out that he was in Bengal,” Behera said.

Mandal has been charged with various sections under the Indian Penal Code. He was produced before the Pattamundai judicial magistrate first class court.

Bhanu Das, who was booked for harbouring the offender, was also produced before the court. Both were later sent to jail after the court rejected their bail pleas.

Mandal was staying at a rented accommodation in the neighbourhood of the victim’s house.

He was attracted to the girl and had made romantic overtures. The girl, who worked in a tailor’s shop, had spurned his advances, which enraged him enough to throw acid at her, the police said.