A 13-year-old girl from Odisha’s Bargarh district died on Monday after sustaining severe burn injuries in an alleged self-immolation, marking the fourth such fatal incident in the state within a month.
Police said the Class 8 student from Paikmal block had gone to her maternal uncle’s home to meet her mother and celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Around 7:30 am, she reportedly poured petrol on herself in a nearby field and set herself ablaze. Villagers rushed to extinguish the flames, but she later succumbed to her injuries at VIMSAR Medical College in Burla.
The motive remains unclear, and an investigation is underway. The girl’s father works as a migrant labourer, while her mother has been living with her parents.
Bolangir SP Rishikesh D. Khilari said, “The doctor has declared her death just now. Her family has filed a report that she self-immolated, and based on that we have filed an unnatural death (UD) case. Following that, other proceedings like her post-mortem and investigation into the cause of her death are underway. The video she had recorded before her death, we have seized that as well. Police is investigating all angles at this time.”
IGP (Northern Range) Himanshu Lal, said, “The girl was living here for the past one month, and she was supposed to return to her hostel today or tomorrow. We are investigating various angles, including what happened at her home earlier today and the possible reasons that led to this.”
This case follows three other burn-related deaths in recent weeks, including incidents in Balasore, Balanga, and Kendrapara districts. In July, the state government barred fuel stations from selling petrol in plastic bottles after one victim allegedly purchased fuel that way before her death.
