Bargarh minor girl’s self-immolation case takes twist; family points to ‘suspicious call’, denies quarrel

Two days after a 13-year-old Class 8 student succumbed to severe burn injuries in a suspected self-immolation incident at her maternal uncle’s house in Phiringimal village under Gaisilat police limits of Bargarh district, her family has dismissed reports of domestic quarrels and pointed instead to a ‘suspicious phone call’ shortly before the tragedy.

The victim’s maternal uncle, speaking to the media, asserted there was no quarrel at home before the incident. He claimed that the girl had been sitting alone in a shed holding a petrol container. When questioned about it, she allegedly ran to a nearby open field and set herself on fire.

He further alleged that his niece may have been distressed over a conversation between a boy and a girl, possibly linked to earlier harassment by another girl, as mentioned in the victim’s purported final statement. He urged police to question her friends to uncover the truth.

“There is absolutely no question of a family dispute. My niece lived here happily and never said that her uncle, aunt, cousins, mother, or grandmother tortured her. There was a girl from outside the family who was involved in torturing her. We demand a probe into that angle,” said the victim’s maternal uncle.

Final statement points to possible harassment

Meanwhile, an audio clip, believed to be the victim’s last statement, has surfaced, in which she identifies herself as a 13-year-old Class 8 student and hints at being harassed by another girl. Police are analysing the recording to verify its authenticity and potential relevance to the case.

Despite the intensified investigation and the detention of three individuals for questioning, police have not made any arrests in connection with the incident.

Officials confirmed that they are probing various leads, including possible harassment, strained personal relationships, and the circumstances at the girl’s residence on the morning of the incident.

Northern Range IGP Himanshu Lal said a special team is conducting the inquiry, adding that a video recorded by the victim before the incident has been seized. Several locals, including a petrol seller and distant relatives, have been interrogated. Post-mortem and forensic reports are awaited to establish the exact cause of death.

On Monday morning, villagers reportedly found the girl lying unconscious and burnt in a local football field.

A petrol bottle and a matchbox were recovered from the scene. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later transferred to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, where she died during treatment.