Bhubaneswar, August 3: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo on Sunday urged opposition parties not to politicize the tragic case of the 15-year-old girl who died after allegedly being set on fire by miscreants in Puri district.
Expressing his condolences, Singh Deo emphasized that the state government had done everything possible to save the girl.
"I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to her family. The government took every necessary step—we even arranged for her transfer to AIIMS Delhi for advanced treatment. Sadly, despite the doctors' efforts, she could not be saved. This is not the time for political point-scoring," he told ANI.
He also noted that the girl’s family acknowledged the government's support.
"In most cases, victim families don't stand with the administration. But here, the family has said the government did its best. So, it's unfortunate that some are trying to politicize this tragedy," he added.
Earlier, the girl’s father also appealed for privacy and asked to be kept out of political debates.
“I don’t want to blame anyone. Everyone prayed for my daughter, regardless of religion. Please keep me and my family away from politics. Everything was fine when she was with us. I don’t know how this happened,” he said in an emotional statement to ANI.
The victim’s uncle echoed the sentiment, stating that the family does not hold anyone responsible for her death.
“God has taken her away. We cannot blame anyone now. The government has supported us, the doctors and hospital staff did their best. We have no complaints,” he said. He also revealed that the girl’s father has slipped into depression, saying, “Seeing him like this breaks my heart.”
The 15-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries on Saturday at AIIMS Delhi. She had sustained severe burns after allegedly being abducted and set on fire on July 19 in the Balanga area of Puri district. According to police, the girl was with friends when she was taken to a riverside location by unknown individuals and set ablaze.
(With ANI inputs)
