In a significant development in the Puri minor girl immolation case, the victim from Balanga recorded her statement on Friday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The statement was taken under the close supervision of the Odisha Crime Branch team, doctors at AIIMS, and in the presence of her family members.
Based on her testimony, the Crime Branch has intensified its investigation, gathering crucial leads to piece together the events leading to the horrific incident. Officials confirmed that vital information was obtained during the recording, which is now being cross-verified. However, neither AIIMS authorities nor the Crime Branch team has released an official statement on the case so far.
The victim, a 16-year-old girl, continues to remain in critical condition after sustaining 75 percent burns when three unidentified bike-borne assailants allegedly set her on fire in Balanga, Puri, on July 19, 2025. She underwent a six-hour-long skin grafting surgery on Thursday, which had initially been delayed due to a mild fever.
According to a medical bulletin from AIIMS, the victim is currently on oxygen support and is under 24×7 monitoring by a dedicated team of doctors at the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery. “On Day 5, the minor girl underwent surgery for the management of deep burns. She remains critical but stable under constant supervision,” the hospital stated.
Earlier, a two-member Crime Branch team from Odisha reached Delhi to oversee the investigation and coordinate with local authorities regarding the probe.
The shocking case has sparked outrage across Odisha, with demands for swift action to identify and punish the culprits behind the brutal attack.
