The mortal remains of a 15-year-old girl from Puri district, who tragically succumbed to severe burn injuries after allegedly being set on fire by unidentified miscreants on July 19, arrived in Odisha on Sunday evening.
The girl, a resident of Balanga, had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi but died on Saturday despite all medical efforts. Her body was flown to Bhubaneswar airport from the national capital, where Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida paid her final respects.
The incident has sparked a political controversy in the state. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Niranjan Bishi criticized the ruling administration, calling the incident a “grave law and order failure.”
“The state government has failed to maintain law and order. If students are not safe, how can citizens feel secure? The people of Odisha are demanding accountability,” said Bishi, accusing the government of shifting blame onto the opposition to cover its shortcomings.
In response, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo appealed to political parties to refrain from politicizing the tragedy. Expressing condolences to the bereaved family, he stated, “The state did everything possible to save her, including transferring her to AIIMS Delhi. Unfortunately, her life couldn’t be saved. The family acknowledges the government’s efforts, and their support is with us.”
Singh Deo added that unnecessary third-party interventions were unhelpful, especially when the victim’s family had expressed satisfaction with the government’s response.
According to the police, the girl had gone out with friends on the day of the incident but was allegedly abducted and taken to a riverside location, where she was set ablaze by unidentified assailants. Investigations into the case are ongoing.
