Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Supremo Naveen Patnaik expressed deep anguish over the recent incident of a Plus II girl student being set on fire in Puri’s Balanga area.
Condemning the act in his X handle, Patnaik noted that such incidents have become alarmingly regular in Odisha, pointing to a deep systemic failure of governance.
Highlighting the frequency of such incidents, Patnaik mentioned the recent case of a girl setting herself ablaze in FM College after being denied justice and the horrific incident in Gopalpur. He emphasised that these are not isolated cases, but rather a sign of emboldened criminals and government inaction.
The Leader questioned whether the Odisha government would take speedy action to arrest the criminals and ensure such incidents are not repeated.
“Deeply anguished to know that a young girl was set on fire in Balanga area of Puri District. This attempt to kill her happened in broad daylight. I strongly condemn this horrible act. It has happened just within a week of the terrible incident of a young girl setting herself ablaze in FM College after she was denied justice–even after knocking on every door, and a month after the horrific incident in Gopalpur. Such unthinkable incidents against women are now being reported almost daily across #Odisha,” his tweet reads.
His tweet further reads: “These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished. It shows how Odisha is becoming highly unsafe for women due to government inaction and political patronage. Will the Odisha Govt wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly, will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated? The girls and women of #Odisha await a response.”
Notably, the incident occurred earlier on Saturday morning when the girl was walking to her friend’s house at Bayabara village under Balanga police station in Puri district. Three miscreants reportedly intercepted the girl, poured a flammable substance on her, and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene.
Locals quickly rushed her to Pipili hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was subsequently shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for specialised care.
