Bhubaneswar: Balanga police station in Odisha’s Puri district witnessed chaotic scenes as a demonstration by BJD workers turned violent on Sunday.
They were protesting against the shocking attack on a 16-year-old girl, who was set on fire by three miscreants at Bayabar village under Nimapara block in the district on Saturday morning.
According to sources, the agitators attempted to force their way into the police station, leading to a scuffle
with police personnel. Three platoons of police forces were later deployed to restore order.
This came even as the victim was airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi for advance medical care.
Meanwhile, DGP Y B Khurania along with Puri SP Pinak Mishra and other senior officers visited the crime spot on Bhargavi riverbank.
Pipili SDPO Debashish Mishra said that CCTV footage was being examined to identify the culprits. Eight individuals, including the victim’s relatives and friends, are being questioned. However, no arrests have been made so far.
The assault took place around 8.30 am when the victim was on her way to her friend’s house. The three attackers, riding a motorcycle, gagged her using a handkerchief on a deserted stretch and abducted her to the Bhargavi riverbank, where she was allegedly doused with an inflammable substance and set on fire.
She, however, managed to escape from the clutches of the perpetrators and ran towards a house at Kerahala village, where Dukhishyam Senapati rushed to douse the flames. He provided the girl with first aid and offered her new clothes, before informing her family and the police.
The girl suffered burn injuries on her back, abdomen and other parts.
She was then taken to Pipili hospital and later shifted to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. She was found with 70-75% burn injuries.