A minor girl, a first-year student, died en route to Khordha District Hospital after residents found her in a critical condition near Ostapur under the Baghamari police station.
This tragedy follows another recent case of a kidnapped minor battling for life in Bhubaneswar, and together they highlight a disturbing rise in crimes against young women in the region.
The girl hailed from Pathuripada under Banki police station in Cuttack district but lived in a hostel at Sunakhala, Nayagarh, while pursuing her studies. According to sources, she left the hostel with her male friend the previous day. They visited her home, argued with her mother, and then roamed around on a bike.
Tragedy struck when the male friend allegedly abandoned her in a near-death state near Ostapur. Local residents spotted her and immediately informed her brother-in-law. Consequently, he rushed to the spot and arranged an 108 ambulance. However, the vehicle broke down midway at Simor Square, delaying treatment. Another ambulance arrived, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, her brother-in-law voiced strong suspicions about the male friend’s involvement, suggesting foul play. Questions also emerged about hostel oversight and how she left without permission.
At the same time, jurisdictional confusion complicated the case. Baghamari police claimed the incident fell under the Banki police station since her home lies there. The family proceeded to Banki to lodge a complaint, while locals debated recurring incidents in the area.
Furthermore, investigators began examining audio conversations from her mobile phone for clues. They also awaited the postmortem report to determine the exact cause of death.
