Odisha Minor Girl kidnapped and set on fire - dies...
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on saturday (August 2, 2025) that 3 unidentified miscreants had allegedly set a 15-year-old girl on fire in puri district. The victim died during treatment at the All india Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
On the morning of July 19, 3 unidentified people allegedly kidnapped the girl on the banks of the Bhargavi river in puri district and set her on fire. Her mother told in the FIR lodged at the Balanga police station that the incident took place when the minor was going to her home after meeting a friend. Three people stopped and kidnapped her and set her on fire by pouring flammable material on her.
The victim was more than 70 percent burnt. She was first taken to Pipili Community health Center on July 19. Later the same day, she was taken to AIIMS, bhubaneswar and the next day by air to AIIMS, delhi, where she underwent at least two 'surgeries' and 'skin grafting'. The odisha police had recorded the statement of the victim in the presence of a magistrate at delhi AIIMS on Friday.
In a post on X, Majhi said, "I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the victim from Balanga area. Despite all efforts of the government and round the clock efforts of the expert medical team of Delhi-based AIIMS, her life could not be saved. I pray for the peace of the soul of the victim and pray to god to give strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss." odisha Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and P. Parida have also condoled the death of the victim.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and leader of Opposition naveen patnaik expressed deep grief over the death of the minor victim and offered his condolences to the family of the deceased. A delegation of BJD MPs led by rajya sabha member Sasmit Patra said they were going to AIIMS in Delhi.
What did the police say?
The odisha police also expressed grief over the incident and claimed that the investigation into the burning of the victim has reached its final stage. The police claimed that no other person was involved in the incident and appealed to everyone not to make any sensational statements on the matter.
The 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 investigated with full 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 about this matter during this sad moment. "
Odisha Pradesh congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das expressed condolences and demanded the arrest of the three culprits within 7 days. Das said, 'If the culprits are not caught within seven days, we will gherao the DGP office.' He said that 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 criminals involved in this case. Meanwhile, sources said that puri police has deployed some policemen near the house of the deceased girl in Balanga.