TV
The attempt to record the statement of the Balanga burn victim for the third time was delayed again on Monday, as the survivor remained in the operation theatre at AIIMS Delhi for the majority of the day, informed sources.
The victim, who is undergoing skin grafting at AIIMS Delhi, will narrate her statement again before a two-member police team from Odisha, which is currently in the national capital to gather testimony, amid continuing inconsistencies in the victim’s previous statements recorded in Bhubaneswar and Delhi.
Police Await Victim’s Recovery for Fresh Statement
According to officials, the survivor, a 16-year-old girl who sustained 75% burns in an alleged brutal attack by three unidentified assailants in Balanga, Puri, could not give her statement due to ongoing medical procedures.
Despite plans to record her statement on Monday, her condition in the operating theatre (OT) prevented this from happening. Only her father and other family members could be questioned so far.
The police team, led by DSP (Headquarters) Kalpana Kanhar and Balanga IIC Chittaranjan Panda, is stationed in Delhi and intends to record the victim’s statement once she stabilises. The delay marks the third unsuccessful attempt by the investigation team to collect her formal account, which is crucial for court proceedings.
Conflicting Statements Prompt Third Round of Testimony
Senior officials revealed that inconsistencies between the two previous statements recorded at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and AIIMS Delhi necessitated a third, more definitive account.
Puri SP had earlier confirmed the need for another statement to reconcile these differences and strengthen the case against the accused.
To ensure the admissibility of the statement and eliminate doubts, the fresh testimony is to be recorded under magistrate supervision. The Balanga police, along with Crime Branch officials, are working in coordination to complete this process without compromising the victim’s medical care.
A recent medical bulletin from AIIMS described the girl’s condition as critical but stable. “A 16-year-old female patient who sustained 75 percent burns on July 19 was airlifted from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and admitted to our burns unit the next day. On Day 5, she underwent surgery for management of deep burns and remains under close monitoring,” it stated.
