Sharmili Mallick

Jajpur: A newlywed woman sustained severe burn injuries after she was allegedly set on fire by her in-laws at Jalanda village under Korei police limits in the district.

Though the incident took place on October 23, the matter came to the fore on Wednesday after the video of the survivor's father accusing her in-laws of committing the crime went viral on various social media platforms.

Reports said, one Bilash Chandra Das of Bhandaripokhari area in Bhadrak district had recently got his daughter married at Jalanda. However after few days of good rapport, the woman’s in-laws allegedly attempted to kill her by pouring kerosene and setting her on fire on last Wednesday.

Some villagers rushed to the spot after getting information and rescued the woman. They later admitted her to Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and informed her parents.

The woman's father also reached the hospital and shifted her to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on the advice of doctors, said sources.

"When I went to Korei Police Station to lodge an FIR two days after the incident, an official present at the police station informed us that the IIC was not present. He asked us to just submit a written complaint and visit the PS after seven days,” said Das.

He alleged that even though seven days have passed, police are yet to take action into the matter. The survivor's father further alleged that though the health condition of his daughter is critical, police are yet to record her statement.

With no option left, Das narrated about the incident and subsequent police inaction into the case before a person who posted his statement on social media after capturing it in a video.

Meanwhile, following the incident, Korei police has registered a case and initiated a probe into the matter yesterday.

Korei Police Station IIC Ranjit Mohanty clarified that a dispute between Das and his son over filing of FIR in the case led to delay in probe into the matter.

Balasore SP Charan Singh Meena said, “I will look into the matter and direct the officials to take appropriate action.”

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