Another Odisha girl dies after self-immolating, father blames police indifference

A 20-year-old Odisha college student succumbed to burn injuries in Kendrapara district on Wednesday. The young girl set herself on fire, allegedly fearing threats from her boyfriend. 

 

This is the third incident of a girl succumbing to burn injuries in Odisha within almost two weeks. According to Kendrapara police, the victim doused herself with kerosene and set herself on fire while she was alone at home. Senior police officials rushed to the spot, and a probe is underway.

 

The victim, a college student from Kathiapada village in Pattamundai, was allegedly being threatened by her boyfriend for the past three months. The victim's father alleged that though they had petitioned with police, they took it lightly and were indifferent to his daughter's plight. 

 

 

"She was in a relationship with a man and was being blackmailed by him," the father charged. He also alleged police simply asked his daughter to avoid the boyfriend's calls. "The police asked my daughter to block the man's mobile number if he was harassing her," the father said.

 

Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria visited the victim's family and said, "I have seen the body. Her father claimed that she died by suicide. The matter will be investigated."

 

This was the third incident of a girl self-immolating and succumbing to burns in Odisha. On July 12, a 20-year-old female student of FM College in Balasore immolated herself in college premises. The victim took the drastic step alleging the college adminsitration overlooked her sexual harassment complaint against her department head. The victim died two days later.

 

Another 15-year-old girl from Balanga area of Puri district also died from burn injuries on August 2. She was allegedly set on fire by three persons on a motorcycle.

 

India