Girl, 15, set on fire by 3 men in Odisha's Puri days after Balasore student's self-immolation

Three miscreants set the girl on fire in Bayabar village of Puri while she was going to her friend's house, eyewitnesses cited in a report said.

Updated on: Jul 19, 2025, 19:42:31 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Close on the heels of the death of a 20-year-old college girl's in Odisha's Balasore district following self-immolation attempt over her sexual harassment by a professor, a 15-year-old girl in Puri district was allegedly set on fire by three unidentified youths while she was on her way to a friend’s house on Saturday morning.

Police personnel block a road leading to the Odisha Assembly in view of the protest march of BJD workers over the death of a college student in Odisha's Balasore (PTI)

Police officials in Puri district said the girl was going to the house of her uncle in a village where she was supposed to give a book to a friend living there. While she was on her way, 3 unknown youths came on a motorcycle and put a handkerchief on her face making her unconscious.

The 3 youths then took her to nearby river embankment and tried to kill her by burning her by pouring petrol. The attack took place at around 8.30 am.

"The girl was set ablaze by the trio, who then fled the scene. Locals rushed to the spot after hearing her screams. She was rescued by a villager who gave put on clothes on her and took to Pipili CHC. She was then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar as her conditions deteriorated," said Punak Mishra, DIG, who is officiating as head of Puri police.

AIIMS officials said the victim has suffered approximately 70% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burns with maximum injuries on her lower torso. A 14-member expert committee under Dr Sanjay Giri of plastic surgery and burns department of AIIMS has been constituted for the management and monitoring of the VICTIM'S treatment.

“The committee can co-opt any other faculty member of any other clinical department as and when required and shall do the best possible management for the patient and the treatment shall be provided free of cost as decided by government. Dr. Sanjay Giri is being authorised to prepare medical update once in the morning and one in the evening everyday,” AIIMS said in an order.

The family has ruled out personal enmity or a love-revenge case as possible causes. Special teams have been formed for identification of the involved accused persons. As of the last reports, the identities of the attackers are still unknown, and police have yet to make any arrests.

The Mohan Majhi government said it will bear the full cost of the victim's treatment at AIIMS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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