New Delhi : A 15-year-old girl was doused with petrol and set on fire in Odisha’s Puri on Saturday, coming on the heels of the death of a college student who self-immolated herself. The minor, who has suffered 70% burn injuries, has been to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and is critical. The incident happened in Bayabar village when the girl was going to her friend’s house.
The trio fled after the incident. The police have launched a manhunt for the miscreants. A senior police officer said that the girl suffered burn injuries to her back, abdomen and other parts. The victim’s cousin brother said she was kidnapped, tied up near the river and set on fire. He said the incident happened barely 500 metres from their house.
My sister was going to her friend’s place carrying some books. On the way, three people kidnapped her. They tied her up near the river and set her on fire using petrol. We don’t know why she was attacked. We have filed a complaint with the police, he said. Local media reports said the girl’s family has ruled out personal enmity or a love affair angle as possible causes.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the police have been instructed to immediately arrest the culprits. I am deeply pained and shocked to hear the news that some miscreants in the Balangir region poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl on the road and set her on fire… All necessary arrangements are being made for her treatment. The government will bear all medical expenses, Parida said.
“The police administration has been directed to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action,” Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, tweeted. Tearing into the ruling BJP government, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said such incidents against women had become almost daily across the state.
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, Patnaik tweeted. He squarely blamed government inaction for Odisha becoming highly unsafe for women.
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