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Scroll.in
20-07-2025
- Scroll.in
Odisha: 15-year-old girl set on fire by three men in Puri district
A 15-year-old girl was allegedly set on fire by three unidentified persons while on her way to a friend's house in Odisha's Puri district on Saturday, The Indian Express reported. The girl has suffered 70% to 75% burn injuries and her condition is stable, Executive Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar Dr Ashutosh Biswas told The New Indian Express. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said that the girl has been airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi for ' the best possible treatment ', adding that the state government would ensure all necessary support to the teenager. A preliminary investigation found that three persons on a motorcycle allegedly intercepted her at an isolated spot, tied a handkerchief around her face, doused her with a flammable substance and set her on fire before fleeing, The Indian Express quoted the police as saying. Locals took her to Pipili hospital in Puri, from where she was shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. A special team has been formed to investigate the case, Deputy Inspector General of Police Pinak Mishra told The Indian Express. 'We will record the victim's statement once her condition improves,' the newspaper quoted Mishra as saying. 'The police have been taking information from her friends, relatives and other locals.' He added that a few persons have been detained for questioning, The Hindu reported. The incident comes almost a week after an undergraduate student set herself on fire on July 12 after her complaint of sexual harassment by a faculty member in Balasore district allegedly went unaddressed. She died of her injuries on July 14. Opposition slams state government Opposition leaders have condemned the incident, saying that it points to a 'deep systemic failure of governance' in the Bharatiya-Janata Party-ruled state. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that he was 'deeply anguished' by the attack and claimed that such 'unthinkable' acts against women were now being reported almost daily in Odisha. Referring also to the recent case in Balasore, where an undergraduate student died after setting herself on fire, the Biju Janata Dal leader said these were not 'stray' incidents. 'These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance,' he said on X. 'It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished.' Patnaik also claimed that Odisha was becoming increasingly unsafe for women. Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das alleged that the BJP government and the state administration had become ' mere spectators ', while such incidents are occurring repeatedly, The Hindu reported. 'Girl students and women are unsafe in the state,' Das claimed. 'Criminals no longer fear the government, administration and police…Yet, the BJP government, utterly insensitive, continues to beat the drum of good governance.' His party colleague, KC Venugopal, said that another 'horrific' crime had come to light while Odisha was still reeling under the shock of the Balasore incident. 'How deep must the systemic rot in the police system be for criminals to set a girl on fire in broad daylight with such impunity?' he asked on X. 'With every passing hour, Odisha is becoming an even more unsafe place for women.' While Odisha is still reeling under the shock of the Balasore incident, another horrific crime has come to light. How deep must the systemic rot in the police system be for criminals to set a girl on fire in broad daylight with such impunity? With every passing hour, Odisha is… — K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) July 19, 2025
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
3 men waylay 15-yr-old girl, set her ablaze in Puri
Representative Image BHUBANESWAR/PURI: Three men on a bike waylaid a 15-year-old girl a kilometre from her home, poured kerosene over her and set her afire, in Odisha's Puri district on Saturday. The girl is fighting for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A 14-member medical team has been formed for her treatment. The attack took place around 8:30am, when the girl, a Class IX dropout, was walking to a relative's house. The accused forcibly took her to the banks of Bhargavi river, set her ablaze and fled as she screamed in pain. The girl ran towards a house and asked for help. "I was shocked to see her on fire. I doused the flames... I enquired about her family and asked them to come immediately. Then, we called an ambulance and police. They took her to hospital," said a man who helped the teen first. AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Ashutosh Biswas said the girl's condition is critical. "She sustained 70-75 percent burns and is traumatised. She needs cardiovascular care. She is in ICU with oxygen support, but not on a ventilator. Our priority is to keep her blood pressure under control. We can speak about the outcome of treatment after 48 hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo Till then, we will observe her closely and monitor her vitals. The patient is conscious and speaking," he added. Authorities are racing against time to find out the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators, with initial suspicions pointing towards a relationship gone sour. "A scientific team has reached the crime scene. A special squad has also been formed to nab the accused," said Puri SP Pinak Mishra. Police are scrutinising CCTV footages. Police found a bottle at the crime spot, believed to have been used to carry kerosene. The girl's statement was recorded in the presence of a magistrate. Her mother has lodged a formal police complaint. Meanwhile, deputy CM Pravati Parida said, "I am deeply saddened and shocked. The govt will bear all expenses of her treatment."
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
3 men set 15-year-old ablaze in Puri district, condition critical
Bhubaneswar/Puri: Three men on a bike waylaid a 15-year-old girl, a kilometre from her home, doused her with kerosene before setting her afire in Puri district on Saturday. The girl sustained 70 per cent burns and is fighting for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A 14-member expert committee has been formed for her treatment. The girl, a Class IX dropout, was walking to a relative's house on the village outskirts when the attack took place around 8:30 am. The miscreants fled when the girl screamed in pain. The girl ran towards a house and asked for help. "I was shocked to see the girl on fire. I doused the flames and gave her new clothes. I enquired about her family members and asked them to come immediately. Later, we called an ambulance and police. They took her to the hospital," said a man, who helped the girl first. The man said he did not find the miscreants during the search. "The girl said the miscreants took her to a bush on the river embankment after putting a sedative-laced handkerchief on her face," he added. AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Ashutosh Biswas said the girl's condition is critical. "She sustained 70 to 75 per cent burns and is traumatised. She needs cardiovascular care. She is in ICU with oxygen support, but not on a ventilator. Our priority is to keep her blood pressure under control. We can speak about the outcome of treatment after 48 hours. Till then, we will observe her closely and monitor her vitals, cardiac problems, and respiratory system. The patient is conscious and speaking," he added. Authorities are racing against time to find out the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators, with initial suspicions pointing towards a relationship gone sour. "A scientific team has reached the crime scene. A special squad has been formed to nab the accused," said SP (Puri) Pinak Mishra. Police found a bottle believed to have been used to carry kerosene at the crime spot. "We are interrogating people. We are yet to ascertain the cause of the attack on the girl," he added. Police have examined and scrutinised local area CCTV footage. The girl's statement was recorded in the presence of the magistrate. Her mother lodged a formal complaint at the nearby police station. "We demand justice and immediate arrest of those involved," she wrote in her complaint. IG of police (central range) S Praveen Kumar reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Director general of police Y B Khurania is monitoring the investigation. "I am deeply saddened and shocked. The girl was immediately taken to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and all arrangements for her treatment have been made. The govt will bear all expenses of her treatment," said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Balasore sexual harassment case: Principal arrested after Odisha girl immolation
Representative image BALASORE/BHUBANESWAR: Odisha police on Monday arrested the suspended principal of a government-run college in Balasore after a 20-year-old student set herself ablaze Saturday over alleged administrative neglect in addressing her complaints of sexual harassment against a senior faculty member. The student is battling 90% burns at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Doctors said her condition is critical and unchanged since admission. President Droupadi Murmu visited the burns unit to check on the student's condition and met her family. "She is on ventilator support in ICU. We told the President that the hospital is providing her the best treatment available," said Dr Ashutosh Biswas, executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Murmu was in Bhubaneswar for AIIMS's 5th convocation. Medical superintendent Dr Dillip Kumar Parida said there is "no improvement" in her condition. "We can say she is critical and stable. Her condition is the same as when she arrived. The next 72 hours remain crucial," he said. The student allegedly endured months of harassment and academic threats from a faculty member. She doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire outside the college gate Saturday noon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo The assistant professor she accused has been arrested and charged under multiple sections of BNS, including sexual harassment. DIG Satyajit Nayak said the college principal has been charged with abetment of suicide. As the young woman's life hangs in the balance, her cousin demanded accountability. "Those responsible should not be spared. Proper investigation is needed in my sister's case," he said, standing vigil at the hospital. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the hospital Monday, met the family, and urged people not to politicise the tragedy. "The priority is to save the student's life. Police are doing their job. No one will be spared," he said. The case has ignited widespread outrage. BJD and Congress workers held demonstrations in Balasore and Bhubaneswar, accusing BJP government of failing to act in time. Congress's Alka Lamba called out state government for "inaction" in addressing sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions. Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who also serves as chancellor of state universities, has sought a detailed report from the government on the sequence of events that led to the girl's suicide attempt. (Inputs from Ashok Pradhan)
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"President Droupadi Murmu to attend 5th convocation of AIIMS Bhubaneswar today," says AIIMS Executive Director
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): AIIMS Bhubaneswar is set to hold its 5th convocation on Monday, said AIIMS Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas, and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will be attending the ceremony. Speaking to the reporters, Ashutosh Biswas said, 'Today is the 5th convocation of AIIMS, and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and the President of AIIMS Bhubaneswar will come. Around 643 students will be given a degree, and around 32 students will be awarded a gold medal... We are thrilled to welcome the President of India... Along with this, the governor, CM, education minister, and local MP of Odisha will also be present here...' President Droupadi Murmu will visit Odisha's Bhubaneswar and Cuttack from July 14 to 15, 2025, a press release from the President's Secretariat said. The President, on Monday, will grace the fifth convocation ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar. The next day, the President will grace the 13th annual convocation of Ravenshaw University and lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of three buildings of Ravenshaw Girls' High School at Cuttack. She will also grace the birth anniversary celebration of Adikabi Sarala Das and present the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024 at Cuttack. Earlier on Sunday, former Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla, Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, veteran social worker C Sadanandan Master, and noted historian Meenakshi Jain were among the other people who were nominated by President Murmu for Rajya Sabha. Ujjwal Nikam is best known for handling high-profile criminal cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial of Ajmal Kasab and the 1993 Bombay blasts case. Shringla, known for his distinguished diplomatic career, was India's Ambassador to the United States and Bangladesh. He served as Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022. Other newly nominated members include C Sadanandan Master, a veteran social worker and educationist from Kerala with decades of grassroots service, and Meenakshi Jain, a noted historian and academic recognised for her contributions to the study of Indian history and civilisation. (ANI)
