Love, Law and Loss: Odisha Teen Couple’s Elopement Ends in Tragedy

A tragic sequence of events has been reported from Angul in Odisha, where a 14-year-old girl allegedly died by suicide at a counselling facility a day after her 21-year-old partner also ended his life following a police case linked to their elopement.

Police said the girl had eloped with her 21-year-old boyfriend on April 1, after which the couple travelled to Pune and stayed away for several days before returning to Odisha.

On April 8, the girl’s father lodged a complaint at Angul Sadar police station, leading to a kidnapping case registered against the man under relevant legal provisions , triggering a formal investigation.

According to officials, the couple later returned to Odisha and reached the man’s residence in Dhenkanal district, where the young man allegedly died by suicide on Friday due to fear of arrest and growing legal pressure after the FIR.

Following his death, the girl was placed at a Sakhi One Stop Centre / women’s counselling facility in Angul for protection and psychological support, where she was under supervision and receiving counselling.

However, on Saturday morning, she was found dead inside a bathroom at the centre, with police confirming it as an alleged suicide by hanging , prompting immediate registration of a case.

Recent updates indicate that the girl was reportedly in acute emotional distress after her boyfriend’s death , which is now being considered a key factor in the investigation.

Authorities have also confirmed that police are reviewing supervision and safety protocols at the counselling centre , including how the minor was monitored during her stay.

Separate cases have now been registered in both deaths, and officials said a detailed investigation is underway to examine legal, emotional, and institutional angles.

The incident has raised wider concerns about handling of minors in elopement cases, mental health intervention, and safety standards at protective counselling facilities .