Bhubaneswar: A 16-year-old girl sustained severe burn injuries after three unidentified youths allegedly set her on fire in a shocking broad daylight attack in Puri district’s Nimapada region on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the Bayabar area, barely 1.5 km from the Balanga police station. According to police sources, the victim—a Plus II student—was on her way to deliver books to a friend when she was intercepted by three men near a deserted stretch along the Bhargavi River road. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers forcibly lifted the girl and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene. Locals, alerted by her screams and the sight of smoke, rushed to rescue her and called for help. The girl, who suffered extensive burns on her hands, legs, and torso, was initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Pipili and later referred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar due to the severity of her injuries. She was subsequently shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar (AIIMS-Bhubaneswar), for advanced care. The victim’s family has ruled out any “personal rivalry” or “romantic involvement” as possible motives. As of Saturday evening, no arrests had been made, and the identities of the accused remain unknown. Police have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida condemned the attack as “barbaric” and assured stringent action. “This is a heart-wrenching crime. I have directed the police to arrest the culprits immediately and ensure swift justice,” she said. Parida also confirmed that the state government would bear the cost of the girl’s treatment and announced plans to visit AIIMS to personally check on the victim’s condition. The brutal assault comes on the heels of another tragic incident in Balasore earlier this month, where a girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College died after allegedly immolating herself following prolonged harassment. That case had also triggered public outrage and demands for greater protection of women and girls in the state.
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