Tension in Balanga After Minor Girl Set Ablaze; BJD Demands Justice

Puri: A wave of tension swept through Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers staged a protest outside the local police station, demanding swift justice in the horrifying case of a minor girl who was allegedly set on fire by unidentified miscreants.

The situation escalated when a group of agitated party workers attempted to storm the Balanga police station, leading to a scuffle with police personnel. Authorities responded by deploying three platoons of police to restore order.

Protesters also demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, holding her responsible for the worsening law and order situation and accusing the police of inaction in the case.

Pipili SDPO Debashish Mishra informed the media that an investigation is ongoing. He confirmed that police are analyzing CCTV footage to identify the accused and have already questioned eight individuals, including relatives and friends of the victim. However, no arrests have been made so far.

The heinous incident occurred on July 19 when the minor girl reportedly went to meet a friend in Balanga. According to initial reports, three unidentified assailants intercepted her, poured an inflammable substance on her, and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene. Locals rushed to her aid and initially admitted her to the Community Health Centre in Pipili. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

A special medical committee at AIIMS Bhubaneswar had been formed to monitor her condition. However, as her condition remained critical, she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi today for advanced treatment.

Police have intensified efforts to trace the culprits, with a full-scale investigation currently underway. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with growing demands for justice and stricter measures to ensure the safety of women and minors in the region.