In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old girl was set on fire by some unidentified persons in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday. The victim, a plus-two student, is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, after suffering 70 per cent burn injuries. The harrowing incident reportedly took place at 9 am at Bayabar village under Balanda police station in Nimapada block, some 1.5 kilometres from the girl's home. Three young men on motorcycles stopped the girl as she was going to her friend's house. The accused forcefully took the girl to the banks of Bhargavi River, sprinkled an inflammable substance on her body, and set her on fire, PTI reported, quoting a police officer.
On seeing the flames, local people quickly arrived at the spot, but not before the culprits managed to flee. They doused the fire and took the girl to the Pipili government hospital, from where she was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. According to police, the girl suffered burn injuries on her back, abdomen and other parts.
