Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police on Saturday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, declaring the burn ward and its surrounding areas a prohibited zone. The move follows escalating political tension at the hospital, where a 15-year-old girl—allegedly set on fire by unidentified assailants in Balanga, Puri district—is being treated for 70% burn injuries.
The prohibitory orders were issued to prevent unauthorized gatherings and ensure that the victim receives uninterrupted medical care. Police have cleared the area around the burn ward and warned against any attempts to violate the restrictions.
The decision came after workers from the BJP, BJD, and Congress gathered at the hospital, engaging in heated arguments and shouting slogans. The opposition accused the BJP-led state government of failing to ensure women’s safety, citing the brutal attack as a glaring example. BJP supporters, meanwhile, defended the government’s handling of the case. The situation prompted the deployment of three platoons of police to maintain law and order around the AIIMS campus.
Police officials confirmed that an intensive investigation is underway to track down the three men accused of abducting and setting the girl on fire near a river embankment in Balanga. The incident has triggered widespread public outrage and political backlash across Odisha.
The state government has assured full financial support for the victim’s treatment and is in close coordination with AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The State government have not ruled out the possibility of airlifting the victim to AIIMS Delhi, should her medical condition allow and doctors give clearance.
The tragic case has reignited public discourse on women’s safety in Odisha, with calls from opposition parties and civil society for urgent systemic reforms and swift justice. Police continue to monitor the situation at AIIMS closely as the investigation progresses.
