BHUBANESWAR: The shocking attack on a 15-year-old girl in Puri appears pre-planned, according to preliminary investigation.
The girl was set on fire by a gang of youths under the jurisdiction of Balanga police station on Saturday morning.
The minor girl who suffered serious burns was rescued by local people before she was shifted to AIIIMS-Bhubaneswar. She belongs to a minority community.
A police team-led by DIG Pinak Mishra, also SP-in-charge of Puri district, carried out crime scene investigation and found at least two bottles of inflammable substances, possibly kerosene. The substance is subject to examination, police said.
The incident took place when the victim was on her way to her friend’s house. At least three youths, on a motor-cycle, gagged her using a handkerchief and abducted her to the banks of river Bhargavi. She is believed to have been doused with the inflammable substance and set on fire.
In a bid to save her life, the minor girl ran towards the nearby village and called for help when a local resident, Dukhishyam Senapati, came to her rescue and put out the flames. He then took her to his house and provided first aid and new clothes.
“After dousing the flames, I asked the girl about the incident and she informed that three youths forcibly took her away and set her on fire,” Senapati told mediapersons. Senapati also tried to look for the assailants but they were gone.
Police sources said, the attack seemed pre-planned as the incident took place at around 8.30 am.
“The miscreants were possibly aware of the girl’s movement and came prepared. We are investigating all the angles,” a police officer said.
Mishra efforts are on to identify and trace the culprits involved in the crime. So far, police have not arrested anyone but people are being questioned connection with the ghastly crime.
Meanwhile, the victim who suffered 70 per cent burn injuries, has been admitted to the trauma care of AIIMS-Bhubameswar.