Odisha Girl Set Ablaze in Puri Succumbs to Injuries; Police Rule Out Third-Party Involvement

A 15-year-old girl from Odisha’s Puri district, who was allegedly kidnapped and set on fire by three unidentified assailants last month, has succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed on Saturday.

The incident took place on July 19 along the banks of the Bhargavi River near Bayabar village under Balanga police limits, where the Class 10 student claimed she was abducted, rendered unconscious, and set ablaze by three youths on bicycles. The girl, who suffered over 70% burn injuries, managed to escape and took refuge in a nearby house. She was initially treated at a community health centre, then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and later airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi for specialized care.

In the wake of her death, the Odisha Police issued a statement on Sunday stating that their investigation had reached its final stages and found no evidence of third-party involvement.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of the victim girl in the Balanga incident. A thorough investigation has been conducted. Based on the evidence gathered so far, it is clear that no other person is involved,” the statement read.
“We request everyone to refrain from making sensitive or speculative remarks during this tragic time,” it added.

However, the girl’s initial statement to police named three unidentified assailants, fueling outrage and demands for accountability. Her case had drawn comparisons to another recent tragedy in Odisha—the death of a 20-year-old college student in Balasore, who died after attempting self-immolation, allegedly due to sexual harassment by a professor.

As the investigation nears conclusion, questions remain over the circumstances of the Puri incident, with civil society groups and opposition leaders demanding transparency and an independent probe into the case.