On July 19, 2025, a horrific incident shook Balanga, Puri district, when a 16-year-old girl was set ablaze, succumbing to her injuries on August 2 at Delhi AIIMS. Now, over two weeks after her tragic death, a confidential video of the minor’s statement, recorded during her treatment at Bhubaneswar AIIMS, has gone viral on social media, reigniting public outrage and raising serious questions about privacy violations.
The video, showing a female police officer recording the minor’s statement in the hospital, was meant to remain strictly confidential. Only a select few police officers were authorised to record it, with medical staff barred from accessing the victim during the process to ensure privacy. Despite these measures, the video has spread rapidly across mobile devices, prompting the Puri police to launch an investigation into the leak.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Pinak Mishra addressed the issue, clarifying that the viral video was recorded at Bhubaneswar AIIMS before the victim was shifted to Delhi, where a formal statement was later taken in the presence of a judicial magistrate, adhering to legal protocols. “The investigation into the burning case is in its final stages, and all evidence will be presented in court,” Mishra stated. He emphasised that circulating such a video, especially involving a minor, violates Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, and the police are working with the cyber team and Crime Branch to identify those responsible for the leak. “We are investigating who made this video viral and why,” Mishra added, urging the public not to share the sensitive content.
The victim’s family has been informed, and forensic reports are awaited to conclude the investigation. The leak of such a sensitive video in a case involving a minor has sparked widespread concern, with questions swirling about how it was made public despite stringent safeguards. The police are determined to hold those responsible accountable and prevent further circulation of the video, which continues to spread across social media platforms.
This incident not only highlights the tragedy of the Balanga case but also underscores the challenges of protecting victim privacy in the digital age. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are calling for sensitivity and respect for the victim’s dignity.
