Balasore: Bhograi police have arrested a 22-year-old man on the charge of raping and murdering his sister-in-law.

The accused, Arabinda Pradhan, belonged to Kumbharmuli village in Bhograi block. Along with Arabinda, his father Bajendra Pradhan, 60, was also arrested. They were sent to jail on Wednesday after their bail petitions were rejected.The victim is the wife of Ananta Pradhan, 36, the elder brother of Arabinda.

Ananta lives in Gujarat's Surat for his work, while his wife used to stay at her in-laws' place.

The victim died at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack last Wednesday, where she was undergoing treatment for poisoning. Following her death, her maternal uncle Ananta Patra lodged a police complaint last Thursday. He alleged that in the absence of her husband Ananta, Arabinda had long been trying to enter into physical relationship with the victim.

Finding her alone last week, Arabinda had raped her. Later, Arabinda and his father forcibly poured poison on her mouth to kill her, Patra alleged. Receiving the compliant, the police swung into action and apprehended the duo. They were interrogated and booked under sections 498(2), 302, 304(b), 376 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

"A case was registered under several sections, including those of rape and murder. The father and son were arrested and forwarded to court," said inspector in charge of Bhograi police station Ram Kumar Murmu.

In another development, Simulia police arrested a 32-year-old man on the charge of raping a 19-year-old woman promising to marry her.

The accused, Dipak Mahakud, is a native of Sadanadapur village in Shyamsundarpur gram panchayat of Simulia block.

He was arrested from Bengal where he had fled after the survivor lodged a police complaint.

The accused, who was married, had kept physical relationship with the woman, suppressing his marital status. He also impregnated the woman. While she insisted for marriage at eighth month of pregnancy, the accused allegedly pressurised her for termination of pregnancy.

The woman wrote in her complaint that he tried to convince her to go for an abortion on May 19. When she did not agree, he fled away. Then she lodged a police complaint. Acting on the compliant, the police arrested Mahakud from Bishnupur in Bengal.

The police said that the medical examinations were being conducted on both the survivor and the accused.

"Mahakud was forwarded to court after being booked under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code," said inspector in charge of Simulia police station Sanjay Kumar Parida.