Puri burn victim’s death sparks political row in Odisha; Opposition demands Rs 2 crore compensation

The 16-year-old girl from Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district, who suffered severe burn injuries after being allegedly set on fire on July 19, succumbed to her injuries on Saturday at AIIMS Delhi.

Her death, after a 14-day battle for life, has triggered sharp political responses. Opposition parties trained their guns on the CM Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha, claiming that the girl was denied justice and threatening protests in this regard.

Political Reactions And Allegations

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), in a press conference on Saturday, questioned why no official medical bulletin was ever released and criticised the failure to make arrests even after two weeks. It also demanded Rs 2 crore in compensation for the family and immediate arrest of those responsible within seven days.

“We have continued fighting for justice and will take it to the streets to ensure that the victim is handed out due justice,” said BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma.

On the other hand, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das issued a stern warning, threatening to gherao the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) if arrests are not made within a week.

"After 7 days, we will gherao the DGP Office. They issued one statement after another and recorded several statements. All of this was done to save the culprits. This was all a conspiracy and a plot to save the culprits."

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former MLA Sameer Das countered the political criticism, stating that police investigations had so far not established anyone’s involvement. He appealed to opposition parties to refrain from politicising a sensitive issue while the investigation was still underway.

"I would not want to make any political statements on the matter. If questions arise about this matter, I will address them in due time. The girl was given due care. The Chief Minister was in regular touch with the victim's family at AIIMS Delhi and inquired about her health and consoled them via phone."

Investigation Results Say No One Involved

The incident took place near Bayabar village in Balanga block, where the minor was found with over 75% burn injuries near a river embankment. She was allegedly set ablaze by three unidentified individuals who poured a flammable substance on her.

Following initial treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi on July 20 due to the severity of her condition.

So far, no arrests have been made, and the police have stated that no other person was involved in the victim being set on fire, triggering a major turn in the case. Authorities have stated that there was no evidence of foul play.

These statements were also corroborated by the victim’s father, who also urged political parties not to politicise this matter.

Meanwhile, the girl’s final rites are expected to be conducted in her native village on Sunday.