Cops plan to visit AIIMS Delhi, record fresh testimony of Puri girl
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Bhubaneswar: A police team is likely to visit AIIMS Delhi soon to record fresh testimony from a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly set on fire by three unidentified men near her village in Puri district on Saturday.
As the identities of suspects continue to remain unknown, police hope talking to the girl may shed some light.
"We have requested permission from authorities at AIIMS Delhi to speak to the girl once her condition improves. We have some leads that need verification," a police source told TOI.
The investigating team has begun criminal profiling of potential suspects by gathering information about local youths. This technique involves analysing crime scene evidence and behavioural patterns to build psychological profiles of unknown offenders, helping narrow down the suspect pool.
However, the investigation presents several challenges. No CCTV footage has captured the alleged attackers, and no eyewitnesses have come forward. A silver ring found at the crime scene remains unclaimed, with the survivor's family denying ownership. Police teams visited local jewellery stores on Tuesday to trace its origin.
Further complicating the case, two kerosene bottles recovered from the spot showed no fingerprints.
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Investigators earlier noted that the bottles matched a plastic container found at the survivor's residence.
Police have also dismissed recent reports claiming three unidentified men had threatened a local villager who rescued the survivor after the incident. "We have thoroughly examined the girl's initial statements. However, current evidence does not corroborate her claims about the suspects," the police source said.
The survivor is a Class 9 dropout, while her younger sister and cousin are still studying. "We are trying to gather more personal details through her friends and relatives," the source added.
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