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News Topical, Digital Desk : The girl who was set on fire by three unidentified miscreants in Odisha's Puri has died during treatment at AIIMS Delhi. A 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly set on fire a fortnight ago, has died during treatment, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Saturday. The girl was allegedly abducted and set on fire by three unidentified men on the morning of July 19 on the banks of the Bhargavi river in Puri district.
In an FIR lodged at the Balanga police station, the victim's mother said that the incident took place when the minor was returning home after meeting a friend. Three men stopped and kidnapped her and poured inflammable material on her and set her on fire. She suffered more than 70 per cent burns. She was first taken to Pipili Community Health Centre on July 19. She was later taken to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar on the same day and airlifted to AIIMS Delhi the next day, where she underwent at least two 'surgeries' and 'skin grafting'.
CM's response
The Odisha police on Friday recorded the statement of the victim in the presence of a magistrate at the Delhi AIIMS. "I am deeply shocked to hear about the death of the girl from Balanga area. Despite all efforts of the government and round-the-clock efforts of the expert medical team of AIIMS, Delhi, her life could not be saved. I pray for the peace of the girl's soul and pray to God to give strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss," Majhi said in a post on social media platform 'X'.
No one else was involved in the incident- Police
Odisha Deputy Chief Ministers K.V.Singh Deo and P.Parida have also condoled the death of the girl. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over the death of the minor girl and offered his condolences to the family of the deceased girl. A delegation of BJD MPs led by Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra said they are going to AIIMS in Delhi. Odisha Police also expressed grief over the incident and claimed that the investigation into the burning of the girl has reached the final stage. The police claimed that no other person was involved in the incident and urged everyone not to make any sensational statements on the matter.
Police statement
Odisha Police said in a post on 'X', "We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of the victim girl in the Balanga incident. The police have conducted the investigation with utmost sincerity. The investigation has reached its final stage. As per the investigation done so far, it is clear that no other person is involved in it. Therefore, we request everyone not to make any sensitive comments regarding this matter during this sad moment." However, the police did not say how the girl caught fire.
demand to arrest the culprits
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also expressed his condolences and demanded the arrest of the three culprits involved in setting the girl on fire within seven days. "If the culprits are not caught within seven days, we will gherao the DGP office," Das said. He said 15 days have passed since the incident of setting the girl on fire but the police have not been able to arrest any of the culprits involved in the case. Meanwhile, sources said Puri police have deployed some policemen near the house of the deceased girl in Balanga.
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