Berhampur, Sept. 27: The death of 18-year-old Nandini Biswal, who was rescued by the police in an unconscious state from tourist spot Buddhakhola in Buguda of Ganjam district, has created a flutter in the district.

Police have registered a case of kidnapping and murder and taken two youths into custody.

“We rescued Nandini from Buddhakhola on Wednesday afternoon after some people informed us that girl was lying there in an unconscious state. We took her to the Buguda Hospital and later shifted her to MKCG Hospital here in the evening. She died last night,” said Susant Sethi, inspector in charge of Buguda police station.

“Two youths, Santosh Pradhan and his cousin Harihar, were taken into custody after the deceased’s mother Kasturi lodged a complaint with the police. Kasturi, the mother of Nandini, alleged that Santosh and Harihar kidnapped her daughter and gave her poison, which killed her.

A doctor at Buguda hospital said in his initial report, while referring the case to MKCG Hospital, that Nandini was suspected to have been given poison. She had also multiple injuries on her body and a head injury, according to MKCG Hospital records.

“The body has been sent for post-mortem. Things will be clearer once we get the report,” a police official said.

Nandini and her mother stayed at Kharia village near Aska town. Nandini was supposed to have been in love with Santosh Pradhan, one of the accused. Santosh, his cousin Harihar and Nandini had gone to Buddhakhola on a motorbike on Wednesday.

Sources said Santosh and Harihar had started drinking liquor at Buddhakhol and Nandini had protested. An enraged Santosh had slapped Nandini. Some passers-by intervened, but Nandini told them it was a personal matter and they should not get involved. The crowd had dispersed. But after a few minutes, the girl started vomiting and fell unconscious. Local people gathered there and called the police.

“However, Santosh and Harihar told us that Nandini had complained that she was feeling unwell on their way to Buddhakhol,” a police source said.

Jayanti Padhihari, president of the BJP women’s wing, state unit, alleged that the police were trying to hush up the case and demanded a crime branch inquiry into the incident.