Family of Balanga Victim Appeals to Stay Away from Politics
A teenage girl from Balanga, Odisha, who sustained severe burn injuries after allegedly being set on fire by unidentified assailants on July 19, succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Delhi on Friday night.
Her father, speaking in grief, urged people not to politicise the tragedy. “”I don’t want to point fingers at anyone. Everyone prayed for my daughter, irrespective of religion. I am not upset with anyone. My daughter was not part of my destiny. I don’t want to blame anyone. I request you to please keep me and my family away from politics… Everything was fine till she was at home with us. I don’t know how this happened,” he said.
The body will be brought to her native village for last rites, with police deployed in the area to maintain order.
According to police, the teen was returning home after visiting a friend when she was allegedly abducted near the Bhargavi River in Puri district. She was taken to a secluded area, doused with a flammable substance, and set ablaze. Despite over 70% burns, she managed to run to a nearby house for help before being rushed to hospital.
She was airlifted to Delhi the next day and admitted to the Burn ICU at AIIMS, where she initially showed signs of improvement and underwent skin grafting. However, her condition deteriorated, leading to her death.
The incident has sparked statewide outrage, with demands for swift justice. Police have intensified their search for the culprits, but no arrests have been made so far.
