Bhubaneswar: A 15-year-old girl is battling for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after being doused with petrol and set on fire by three miscreants in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday. The horrific incident, which occurred in broad daylight in Bayabar village near Balanga, has sent shockwaves across the state and reignited concerns about the escalating violence against women in Odisha.
According to officials, the girl was on her way to a friend’s house when she was intercepted by the unidentified attackers. They allegedly poured an inflammable substance on her and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene. Local residents, alerted by her screams, rushed to her aid, extinguished the flames, and immediately transported her to a local hospital before she was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to the severity of her burn injuries, reportedly around 70%. Despite the extensive burns, she is currently able to speak.
AIIMS Director, Dr.Ashutosh Biswas briefed about victim’s health. She is under oxygen and not in ventilator. Next 24 hours is critical. She is in trauma. The victim is in AIIMS ICU.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, swiftly condemned the attack in an X post. “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 on the road and set her on fire,” she stated. Smt.Parida assured that the girl has been immediately shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, with all arrangements being made for her treatment, and the government will bear all medical expenses. She further directed the police administration to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action.
Puri District Magistrate Chanchal Rana confirmed the incident and stated that the administration will provide all necessary assistance. Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra has also reached the spot, and an investigation has been launched to apprehend the culprits and ascertain the motive behind this heinous act. Preliminary investigations suggest no prior enmity or love affair angle, according to the girl’s family.
This disturbing incident comes just days after the tragic death of a college student in Balasore who succumbed to burn injuries after self-immolating, alleging sexual harassment and a lack of justice from authorities. A month prior, the state was rocked by a horrific gang-rape incident at Gopalpur beach.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his anguish over the Puri incident, terming it an “attempt to kill her in broad daylight.” In a scathing X post, he strongly condemned the act and drew a stark connection between these recent occurrences, stating: “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.”
Shri Patnaik further lamented, “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.”
The repeated incidents of violence against women have sparked outrage among the public and political parties, leading to renewed calls for robust measures to ensure the safety and security of women and girls across the state. The police are continuing their investigation into the Puri incident, with a manhunt underway for the three miscreants responsible.