Bhubaneswar: A 22-year-old woman from Ganjam succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar. She had allegedly attempted self-immolation after accusing her father of sexually abusing her for years.
The woman suffered 75% burn injuries after she reportedly set herself on fire on Thursday. She was first admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Her condition later turned critical, leading to her transfer to a hospital in Bhubaneswar. She died despite receiving intensive medical care.
The case took a significant turn on Saturday when her father, a teacher by profession, was arrested. Police acted on the basis of her complaint and evidence gathered during the investigation. The woman named her father and two others while her statement was being recorded at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Authorities arrested the father based on prima facie evidence against him.
The woman alleged that her father had sexually assaulted her before her marriage. She claimed the abuse continued even after she got married. Police said the accused had borrowed Rs 10 lakh from the victim’s father-in-law but failed to repay the amount.
The father-in-law asked the victim to request her father to return the money. When she approached him, the accused allegedly blackmailed her and threatened to make her intimate pictures public. This pressure reportedly led her to take the extreme step.
Investigators have seized two mobile phones — one belonging to the accused and the other to the victim.
A scientific team visited the crime spot and collected physical and material evidence. A case has been registered at Nimakhandi police station.
