Odisha horror continues: Another minor girl sets herself on fire, dies

A 14-year-old girl allegedly immolated herself on Monday at a village in Odisha’s Bargarh district, fourth such incident reported in the state in the last one month, raising concern over safety of women and minor girls in the coastal state.

The victim battled for life at government-run Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences And Research (VIMSAR) in Burla with over 70% burn injury. Later she died of burns. She reportedly poured petrol over her body to self-immolate at a playground in Phiringmala village under the Gaisilet police jurisdiction of Bargarh district.

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Hearing screams of the victim in flames, locals rushed to rescue the victim. By the time an ambulance arrived to shift her to VIMSAR, the victim had already sustained over 70% burn injury. It is yet to be ascertained whether she was set ablaze by miscreants or the victim attempted self-immolation.

A special squad comprising three police officers of Inspector rank has begun a thorough probe of the unfortunate incident with forensic examination and verification of CCTV footage in the nearby areas, a senior police official confided.

This was the fourth incident of women and minor girls dying due to burn injuries due to self-immolation in Odisha since July 12.

A 19-year-old female student died of self-immolation in Pattamundai police station area in Kendrapara district on 7 August.

An undergraduate female student of Balasore FM College, who set herself ablaze on 12 July died of self-immolation after her grievance of sexual harassment by a teacher, was not addressed by the government agencies. While she died two days later, another 15-year-old girl from Balanga area of Puri district also died from burn injuries on 2 August.

The Opposition BJD has slammed the BJP-led state government holding it responsible for rise in women-related crimes in the state.

The state has turned unsafe for women. The government has miserably failed in protecting them. It speaks of deteriorating law and order situation and administrative paralysis in the state, senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya alleged.

The incident has yet again exposed the gaping holes in the law enforcing agencies. Slack law enforcement has virtually emboldened the crime mongers to strike at fresh targets as the inept and inefficient government has turned a blind eye to the crime against women, charged Ganeswar Behera, BJD MLA.