Puri burn case takes twist as teen victim’s father, police say she set herself on fire

A 15-year-old girl from Balanga in Puri district, Odisha, who suffered severe burn injuries on July 19, died on Aug 2 at AIIMS New Delhi.

The victim had initially claimed that three men on motorcycles abducted her, doused her with kerosene, and set her on fire.

She was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with around 75% burns and airlifted to New Delhi the next day. Despite intensive medical care, she succumbed to her injuries two weeks later.

Hours after her death, Odisha Police issued a statement saying that after conducting the investigation with “utmost sincerity”, it had reached the final stage and found “no other person is involved” in the incident.

The statement did not clarify how the girl caught fire. In an emotional video message, the victim’s father said she took her own life due to unbearable mental stress and depression, urging the public and political groups not to exploit the tragedy and to pray for her soul.

He expressed grief, saying, “I have lost my daughter. She ended her life due to mental stress. The trauma she faced was unbearable… All I want now is peace for my daughter.”

These developments contradict earlier eyewitness accounts included in initial FIRs and media reports. One witness had told NDTV that the girl arrived running, her hands tied and mouth gagged, and said she had been attacked by three men who poured kerosene on her. Locals had rushed her to help before the police arrived.

The mother’s FIR also alleged that the girl was attacked by unknown men near a riverbank.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said he was deeply shocked by the tragedy, calling it a “terrible loss” and expressing condolences to the family.

He noted that despite government and hospital efforts, the girl could not be saved. The father’s plea for dignity and restraint, along with the police conclusion of no external involvement, have added a sensitive turn to the case.

No arrests have been made so far, and the case is being reviewed under the possibility of self-harm. A Special Investigation Team had been constituted and forensic teams deployed at the spot earlier, based on the initial kidnapping–attack narrative.

As conflicting versions emerge—one alleging homicide by unidentified suspects, another pointing toward suicide—the tragedy has sparked public outrage and political tension in Odisha.

Opposition parties have demanded justice and compensation, while authorities urge caution, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the probe.