Bhubaneswar, July 19: BJD president and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Saturday expressed anguish over a minor being set on fire by three unidentified miscreants in Balanga area of Puri district and alleged that “it shows how Odisha is becoming highly unsafe for women due to government inaction and political patronage.”
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“Deeply anguished to know that a young girl was set on fire in Balanga area of Puri District. This attempt to kill her happened in broad daylight. I strongly condemn this horrible act,” posted the former Chief Minister on ‘X’.
Maintaining that such unthinkable incidents against women are now being reported almost daily across Odisha, Patnaik said, “It has happened just within a week of the terrible incident of a young girl setting herself ablaze in FM College after she was denied justice--even after knocking on every door, and a month after the horrific incident in Gopalpur.”
“These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished. It shows how Odisha is becoming highly unsafe for women due to government inaction and political patronage,” Patnaik added.
“Will the Odisha Govt wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated? The girls and women of #Odisha await a response,” asked Patnaik.
Notably, a 15-year-old girl was set on fire by three miscreants in Bayabar village under Balanga police station of Puri district on Saturday morning, leaving her in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 70% burn injuries.
The incident occurred when the girl was walking to her friend's house for to give her some notes. The attackers poured petrol on her and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene.
