SHOCK AND AFTERSHOCK

The state stays ablaze in the headlines with another girl victim. The rituals of anger and blame-giving repeat on loop

- Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

ODISHA HAD BARELY recovered from the Balasore self-immolation case of July 12 when it had to confront yet another chilling incident that threw the deteriorating safety of women in the state in even sharper relief.

On July 19, a 15-year-old girl was abducted and set ablaze in broad daylight by three unidentified men in the Balanga area of Puri district. She ran through a residential neighbourhood engulfed in flames, seeking help.

A primary witness, Dukhishyam Senapati, recounted that the girl ran towards his house-he and his family helped douse the fire and provided her with clothes.