3 unidentified men set teen girl on fire in Odisha’s Puri; search for suspects on

A 15-year-old girl sustained severe burn injuries after she was allegedly set ablaze by unknown individuals in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday morning. The girl, currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, suffered 70 per cent burns but remains conscious and able to speak, reported PTI.

The incident occurred around 9 am near Bayabar village in the Balanga police station limits, while the girl was en route to her friend’s home. According to preliminary findings, three unidentified men on a motorcycle intercepted her, dragged her to the banks of the Bhargavi River, doused her with a flammable liquid, and set her on fire before fleeing the scene, a police official stated.

Local residents managed to extinguish the flames and rushed her to the government hospital in Pipili. She was later referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced medical care due to the severity of her injuries, which affected her back, abdomen, and other parts of her body.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who oversees the Women and Child Development Department, announced that the state government would cover all medical expenses. “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,” she said in a post on X.

She further added, “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.” Puri SP Pinak Mishra, who visited the site of the attack, said multiple people are being questioned and forensic teams have been deployed for further investigation. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Pipili SDPO Debasish Mishra said two police teams have been formed to apprehend the attackers. Efforts are underway to extract evidence from CCTV footage collected from nearby homes.

Puri District Collector Chanchal Rana assured that the administration is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and that law enforcement has been instructed to act swiftly.

Meanwhile, delegations from Opposition parties, including BJD and Congress, visited the girl at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and spoke with her family and doctors. “She is currently under treatment... we pray for her speedy recovery,” said senior Congress leader and former Union minister Srikant Jena.