Mortal remains of 16-year-old girl who died under mysterious circumstances arrive in Odisha

By Pramod Sahukar

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 3: The mortal remains of the 16-year-old Odisha girl who died on Saturday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, after being treated for severe burns for 23 days, reached Bhubaneswar late on Sunday evening.

According to Commissioner of Police (CP) Jagmohan Meena, as many as 13 platoons of police force were deployed at Biju Patnaik International Airport to maintain law and order.

Though it was initially alleged that the girl was set on fire by three unidentified miscreants on July 19, the police on August 2 clarified that “no one is involved in the incident,” pointing to a possible case of self-immolation by the victim.

The victim’s father has also corroborated the view of the Odisha police and appealed to all political parties not to politicize his daughter’s death.

Top leaders of all political parties were seen at the airport to receive the body and pay their last respects.

The death of the girl, who belonged to a minority community, triggered statewide outrage, with the opposition Congress and the BJD holding protest rallies across the state. Both parties blamed the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for failing to protect women and children and even demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.

In his first information report (FIR), the victim’s father, citing his daughter’s initial statement, had alleged that she was abducted by three unidentified youths and later set on fire near Bayabar village under Balanga police station limits in Puri district.

However, a thorough investigation by the state police and its specialised Crime Branch revealed that “no one was involved.”

The girl’s father told reporters that she had been under depression for quite some time.

Reports said the girl’s body will be buried as per the religious customs of her community on Monday morning.

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Photograph:

The Final Journey: The mortuary van carrying the girl’s body (left); family members and relatives offer prayers as her mortal remains arrive (right).

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