Bhubaneswar: A 13-year-old girl, who was rescued in a half-charred state from a football field at Padampur in Bargarh district, succumbed to her burns while undergoing treatment at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla. She had sustained over 80 per cent burn injuries.
Initially, the girl was suspected to have attempted self-immolation by dousing herself with petrol at Phiringmala village under the Gaisilet police limits. The case, however, took a dramatic turn when an audio clip surfaced, in which the 13-year-old girl pleaded for help and accused another girl of setting her on fire, contradicting initial suspicions that she had attempted self-immolation by dousing herself with petrol.
In a recorded conversation between the victim and villagers who rushed to her aid, the girl can be heard accusing another female of setting her on fire, while desperately pleading with the locals to save her. This recording suggests that the incident may not have been a case of self-immolation, but rather a deliberate attack.
Talking to the media, a senior police officer stated that a three-member team to probe the incident.
According to officials, the girl had been unwell and had returned home from her hostel a month ago. Police are trying to reconstruct the events leading up to the incident. The girl was admitted to VIMSAR by 10:30 am, but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries. Based on the complaint filed by her parents, a case of unnatural death has been registered, with the parents initially suspecting a suicide attempt.”
It may be recalled that neighbours found the Class VIII student in a critical, half-burnt state in a football field behind her house in Phiringmala village around 7:30 am. Sources close to the family revealed that the girl had been distressed by a classmate’s hurtful remark a few days ago.
