Bhubaneswar: In a shocking case that has rocked Odisha, the Puri police have detained 10 individuals for questioning in connection with the horrific incident of a minor girl being set on fire in the Balanga area of Puri district.
A special team, led by the Additional Superintendent of Police, is spearheading the interrogation process, while two six-member teams have been deployed to investigate all angles of the crime.
Puri SP Pinak Mishra confirmed that 10 persons are currently being questioned. The police are treating the matter with utmost seriousness and have intensified efforts to uncover the full sequence of events. Key items—including a pair of slippers and bangles—were recovered from the crime scene and are being examined for forensic clues.
According to reports, the girl, a resident of Baiabar under Balanga police station limits, was heading to a friend’s house when miscreants allegedly followed, abducted, and set her on fire in an isolated location. In a desperate attempt to escape, she ran while engulfed in flames. Locals who witnessed the horrific scene rushed to her aid and she has been shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in a critical condition.
Doctors at AIIMS have reported that the victim has sustained 70% burn injuries and has been admitted to the specialized burn ward. AIIMS authorities have imposed strict restrictions around the ward to ensure uninterrupted care. Barricades have been erected, and additional security has been deployed to prevent crowding.
The Additional SP assured that all aspects—including motive, identity of the perpetrators, and sequence of the crime—are under thorough scrutiny. The case has sparked widespread outrage, and authorities are under pressure to deliver justice swiftly.
