15-yr-old abducted, set afire in Odisha

DOCTORS SAID THE VICTIM HAS SUSTAINED MOST BURN INJURIES IN HER TORSO AND IS CURRENTLY IN A CRITICAL CONDITION

- Debabrata Mohanty

A 15-year-old girl sustained burn injuries after unidentified men abducted her and set her afire in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday, police said, adding that they have launched a search operation for the accused.

According to police, the incident took place at Bayabar village in Balanga police station area around 9 am when the girl was returning from her friend’s house. Preliminary investigation revealed that three unidentified motorcy cle-borne men intercepted her, forcibly took her to the banks of Bhargavi river, poured an inflammable substance on her, and set her afire.

"The girl was set ablaze by the trio, who then fled the spot. Locals rushed to the spot after hearing her scream. She was rescued by a villager who gave put on clothes on her and took to Pipili health care centre. She was then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar as her conditions deteriorated," deputy inspector general of Police Punak Mishra said.