Kendrapara: Odisha continues to grapple with distressing incidents of violence against young women; as yet another case of self-immolation has come to light.
A final-year Plus-3 student of Pattamundai College hailing from the Kathiapada area in Pattamundai block of Kendrapara district, died after allegedly setting herself on fire after pouring kerosene on her in their house. She succumbed to severe burn injuries, though the exact cause behind her extreme action remains under investigation.
Pattamundai police reached the spot immediately after being informed and have initiated a detailed probe. Preliminary reports indicate that it is yet to be confirmed whether the incident was a case of suicide or foul play.
The victim’s father has leveled serious allegations, stating that her male friend had been blackmailing her using obscene photos and videos. According to him, a formal complaint regarding this issue was lodged at the local police station six months ago. Authorities are now verifying the details of this previous complaint as part of the investigation.
Taking serious note of the incident, the Director General of Police (DGP) has intervened directly and instructed the Kendrapara Superintendent of Police (SP) to visit the site without delay. The SP has been directed to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a report at the earliest.
This tragedy comes close on the heels of two other horrifying self-immolation cases in Odisha. On July 12, a B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore had set herself on fire and died on July 14 during treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Similarly, on July 19, a minor girl in Balanga, Puri district, was set ablaze with an inflammable substance and later succumbed to her injuries on August 2 at AIIMS Delhi.
