A shocking incident unfolded in Bhadrak district when a married man allegedly poured petrol on a minor girl in an attempt to kill her after she rejected his one-sided love proposal.
The incident occurred in the Dhusuri police limits, where the accused, reportedly obsessed with the girl, attacked her in a fit of rage. Locals immediately intervened, overpowered the man, and handed him over to the police.
Eyewitnesses said the man had been stalking the girl for several days. On Monday night, he confronted her near her house and tried to set her ablaze after dousing her with petrol. The girl screamed for help, drawing the attention of nearby residents who rushed to rescue her.
Police detained the accused and launched an investigation. Officers confirmed that the girl escaped with minor injuries, while the attacker sustained bruises during the scuffle with locals.
The Dhusuri police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused will be produced in court after interrogation.
Residents expressed outrage over the incident, demanding strict punishment for the attacker and stronger measures to protect women and minors from such crimes.
