Outrage erupted across Odisha on Sunday after a 15-year-old girl from Puri, who suffered 70% burn injuries under mysterious circumstances, died at AIIMS Delhi—sparking fierce criticism of police claims that no one else was involved in the case.

The girl, initially believed to have been abducted and set on fire near the Bhargavi River on July 19, was airlifted to Delhi the following day. Despite multiple surgeries and skin grafts, she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday. Her postmortem was conducted at AIIMS, and her body is expected to reach her village in Puri by 8 pm for burial.

Soon after her death, Odisha Police posted on X (formerly Twitter) asserting that the investigation showed "no other person was involved," and urged the public to avoid insensitive speculation. But this statement sparked a political storm.

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Opposition parties slammed the police response. BJD leader and Assembly Chief Whip Pramila Mallik alleged an attempt to shield the real culprits, pointing out that a plastic bottle and slippers were found at the scene but no arrests were made. “This is completely unacceptable,” she said.

State Mahila Congress president Meenakshi Bahinipati questioned the shifting narrative. “She had claimed she was abducted by three people. If she was recovering well, how did she suddenly die?” Bahinipati demanded arrests within a week, warning that Congress would gherao the DGP’s office.

Meanwhile, the girl's father released a video stating his daughter died by suicide due to “mental pressure,” though he did not clarify what caused it. He appealed to the public not to politicize the tragedy.

BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra hit back, accusing Congress and BJD of indulging in “vulture politics” and using a young girl’s death for political mileage. In response, BJD's Lenin Mohanty countered by accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, asking if they hadn’t done the same while in opposition.

On the ground, tight security gripped Bayabar village, where locals quietly prepared for the burial. Police monitored the area closely, reporting a tense calm. Villager Dukhishyam Senapati, who had rushed to save the girl on July 19, remained behind closed doors, declining to speak with the media.

With unanswered questions, political finger-pointing, and community grief mounting, the tragic case of the Puri teenager continues to stir emotions and demand accountability.

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