Overview

• Three motorcycle-borne youths intercepted the girl in Bayabar village, doused her with an inflammable substance and set her on fire before locals extinguished the flames and rushed her to medical care.
• The victim remains conscious but in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where a 14-member team of specialists is treating her extensive burn injuries and monitoring her over the next 48 hours.
• Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has pledged that the state government will cover all treatment expenses and instructed the police to arrest the culprits without delay.
• Odisha Police have formed multiple special squads, deployed forensic and dog units and are reviewing CCTV footage as part of a high-priority manhunt for the three unidentified suspects.
• The attack follows a spate of recent gender-based violence cases in Odisha, including a student’s self-immolation and a gang-rape, fueling public demands for stronger protections for women and girls.