Bhubaneswar, July 17: Decades ago, before Bhubaneswar grew into a modern capital city of Odisha, its outskirts were covered with dense forests, lonely trails, and forgotten pathways. One such narrow forest route, used by bullock carts and pedestrians, carried an unusual fear. Travellers passing through the silent wilderness could suddenly hear a strange “tin-tin” sound, much like the call of a lapwing bird.

To an unsuspecting traveller, it sounded harmless — just another bird calling from the trees. But the sound was not a coincidence. It was a signal.

Within moments, two strong young men would emerge from the forest and overpower the traveller. Dragged beneath a large banyan tree, the victim would come face to face with the person behind the terror — a tall, powerful woman holding a sharp axe.

Her demand was simple: surrender whatever valuables you carried.

Resistance meant facing the blade of her weapon.

Her name was Chittera — a name that once sent fear through villages surrounding old Bhubaneswar. She was unlike any criminal figure people had seen before. Standing nearly six feet tall, with a strong build, short bob-cut hair, and a personality that carried a distinctly masculine presence, she became one of the most feared figures in the crime history of the capital region.

Dressed in a white-bordered sari and armed with a sharp axe, Chittera built a reputation that made people tremble. Her two trusted companions, Gopia and Kashia, helped her carry out her activities. From 1947 to 1965, residents of several nearby areas lived under the shadow of her presence.

The fear surrounding Chittera was so intense that many victims never approached the police. Those who lost their money or suffered injuries remained silent, afraid of retaliation. As a result, the police struggled to build a case against her.

The Banyan tree hideout

Chittera’s world revolved around the area that is now known as Lingaraj Station. In those days, there was no station there — only railway tracks surrounded by thick forests. Deep inside that wilderness stood a giant banyan tree known as the Nandi Banyan Tree.

From this tree, Chittera kept watch over the lonely path connecting areas like Pokhariput and Jatani.

During the early years of Bhubaneswar’s development, traders frequently travelled from Jatani market to old Bhubaneswar carrying goods on bullock carts. Small vendors often walked with heavy loads on their heads. These travellers became easy targets.

Hidden among the branches of the banyan tree, Chittera would wait patiently. The moment she spotted a traveller or a bullock cart, she would produce her unusual bird-like call. That single sound was enough to alert her companions waiting nearby.

Those who surrendered their belongings quietly were usually spared. But anyone who challenged her

Beyond the roads: A new target

When there were no travellers to rob, Chittera turned her attention to railway goods trains. Coal-loaded trains became her next target.

With extraordinary courage and physical strength, she would run alongside moving trains, climb onto the wagons, and throw coal down beside the tracks. After jumping off the moving train, her associates would collect the coal and sell it in nearby areas.

Her activities eventually attracted the attention of the railway authorities. The police arrested her several times in connection with coal theft cases. However, every time she secured bail and returned to her old ways.

The Bhubaneswar police station of that era — now known as Sri Lingaraj Police Station — had limited options because there were few direct complaints against her. Fear had silenced many victims.

The end of an era

For nearly two decades, Chittera remained a symbol of fear across old Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas. But time eventually caught up with her. In 1965, advancing age forced her to leave the criminal world and return to her family life.

She passed away in the 1970s, but the stories of her boldness, brutality, and unusual methods survived.

Even today, elderly residents from Old Bhubaneswar, Kapileshwar, Sundarpada, Kapila Prasad, Pokhariput, and Jatani recall the name Chittera with a mixture of fear and fascination.

Long before Bhubaneswar became a planned modern city, its forests had their own legends. And among those legends, the story of Chittera — the woman who ruled the lonely forest paths with an axe in her hand — remains one of the most unforgettable.