Bhubaneswar, Aug 12: Leader of Opposition in Assembly and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed deep shock and anguish over the suicide of a 13-year-old girl by self-immolation in Gaisilet area of Odisha’s Bargarh district.
Taking to his official ‘X’ handle, Naveen expressed deep shock and anguish over the minor girl’s death and extended condolences.
“Deeply saddened, shocked and anguished to know that another girl from Gaesilat, Bargarh has died after setting herself on fire. My condolences for the young girl and prayers are with the family members in the hour of grief. May God give the family members strength to bear this irreparable loss,” he wrote.
Expressing deep concern about a distressing pattern of self-immolation among young girls in Odisha, Naveen highlighted that within a single month, four young girls have died by dousing themselves with flammable substances.
Naveen emphasized the unbearable pain experienced by these girls as the primary reason for their actions and wrote, “In each passing away of innocent lives lies a pain of a daughter of #Odisha which became so unbearable that she saw no other way out than end her life. These four deaths are not stray cases- there are many such girls who are dying in the most tragic way possible after being subjected to crime every day.”
He stated that the desperation of these young girls is not merely a personal tragedy, but a reflection of the failure to hear their cries for help. He emphasized that the BJP administration has failed to build a system in which daughters feel safe, valued, and heard.
Coming down heavily on BJP, Naveen questioned how long the state government would continue to wait before addressing the heartbreaking pattern of suicides. He criticized the government's silence and inaction, stating that it leaves the daughters of Odisha even more vulnerable.
It is worth noting that the minor girl tragically died after setting herself on fire at Phiringimal village under Gaisilet police limits. She was staying at her maternal uncle's house when the incident occurred on Monday.
Villagers found her with severe burns on a nearby football field and rushed her to VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla. She later succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.
Following the incident, the victim reportedly told locals that another girl was responsible for her drastic decision. The police have initiated an investigation and registered a case. The tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout the state, marking the fourth case of a girl dying by self-immolation within a month.
