Odisha Horror: Minor Girl Set on Fire | BJP Govt Under Fire

Odisha Horror: In a gruesome case, a 15 year old girl was burned down by unidentified people in Odisha district of Puri on Saturday, according to reports, quoted by PTI.

The girl has been taken to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in a critical condition after the incident occurred. Doctors reported burn injuries of 70 per cent on the girl, however, she can talk.

Based on the initial probe, the girl was stopped by three unknown youth on motorcycles at around 9 am at Bayabar village in the Balanga police station when she was on her way to the house of her friend.

The police officer noted that they forcefully took her by the banks of Bhargavi River, sprinkled some inflammable substance on her body and set her on fire.

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The place where the incident occurred is near 1.5 kilometers of her house at Nuagopalpur Bustee and near 5-7 kilometers of Balanga police station.

The miscreants escaped the scene after the incidence. People living in the area doused the fire and then they took her to Pipili government hospital, where she was transported to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Ex-CM reacts:

Expressing his anguish, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took to X and wrote, "Deeply anguished to know that a young girl was set on fire in Balanga area of Puri District. This attempt to kill her happened in broad daylight. I strongly condemn this horrible act."

He added, "It has happened just within a week of the terrible incident of a young girl setting herself ablaze in FM College after she was denied justice--even after knocking on every door, and a month after the horrific incident in Gopalpur. Such unthinkable incidents against women are now being reported almost daily across #Odisha."

"These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished," he added.

Stating Odisha becoming highly unsafe for women, Patnaik said, “It shows how Odisha is becoming highly unsafe for women due to government inaction and political patronage. Will the Odisha Govt wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated? The girls and women of #Odisha await a response.”

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Government action:

The police superintendent of Purik Pinak Mishra said that they had begun investigation and question some persons. No arrests or detention has been made yet, said SP.

Pipili Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Debasish Mishra said that the burn injuries were on the back, abdomen and other parts of the victim.

"Two teams have been formed to nab the culprits. We are trying to search for clues from CCTV cameras installed in private homes," PTI quoted him as saying.'

In the meantime, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida clarified that the government will fund the treatment cost of the girl and the police have been directed to nab the criminals within the shortest possible time.

Taking to X, Parida wrote, "I am saddened and shocked to hear the news that some miscreants at Balanga in Puri district poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl and set her on fire."

"The girl has been immediately shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and all arrangements are being made for her treatment. All the expenses of the treatment will be borne by the government. The police administration has been directed to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action," she said.

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