Puri, Aug 4: A 15-year-old girl who succumbed to severe burn injuries at AIIMS Delhi was laid to rest in her ancestral village of Bayabar, surrounded by grieving family and relatives. Her funeral, held according to Islamic traditions, took place amid tight security arrangements.
The girl had suffered 75% burn injuries and fought for her life for 14 days before passing away on Saturday. Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida attended the last rites and was seen during the recitation of the Holy Quran, offering condolences and support to the grieving family. Pipli MLA Ashrit Patnaik was also present.
To prevent any potential unrest, three platoons of police were deployed in the village as emotions ran high over the tragic incident.
The girl’s body was flown back from Delhi to Bhubaneswar late Sunday night, arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport around 10:50 PM. The young victim, a resident of Balanga, was reportedly set on fire on July 19 by three unidentified individuals near the banks of the Bhargavi River. Despite suffering severe injuries, she managed to run to a nearby house, where locals found her and alerted her family.
She was initially treated at a local hospital in Pipili, then transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and later airlifted to AIIMS Delhi due to the severity of her condition.
The case has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha, especially following a similar recent tragedy involving a student from FM College. However, Odisha Police stated that they have not found evidence so far linking anyone else to the incident.
In a surprising development, the girl’s father claimed that his daughter may have taken her own life due to mental distress and depression. He also urged political parties not to politicize her death, emphasizing the family's need for privacy and peace during this difficult time.
