Bhubaneswar/Puri- In the heart-wrenching incident that shook Puri’s Balanga area, where a teenage girl was brutally set on fire in broad daylight by unidentified attackers, the victim’s father has come forward, expressing his anguish and appealing for swift justice.
Still in shock and unaware of who carried out the heinous act, the father said he has refrained from discussing the incident with his daughter due to her fragile medical and emotional state. “She is slowly recovering and has been able to speak a little. But we haven’t talked about what happened. I don’t know who is behind this. How can we name anyone when we are still waiting for her to fully recover?” he said.
Appealing to the authorities, he added, “I only wish my daughter gets well soon. The government must ensure that whoever did this is punished. Right now, her condition is slightly stable. She’s under treatment, and has received some medicines and injections that have helped her a bit. I haven’t been in a state to contact anyone as my mind is not steady.”
Responding to the gravity of the case, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has formed a high-level expert committee to monitor the treatment of the young victim. The girl is currently being treated in the hospital’s specialized burn unit.
According to an official statement, the 14-member team includes specialists from General Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Burn and Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, Anesthesia, Trauma and Emergency, Forensic Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Nephrology. Dr. Sanjay Giri, Additional Professor in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, has been appointed the committee’s member secretary.
The hospital clarified that the committee has been empowered to bring in other faculty members if required, and treatment for the girl will be provided entirely free of cost, as per the government’s directive.
Meanwhile, AIIMS authorities have issued an advisory asking the public to avoid crowding the hospital premises, especially at entry points and in the lobby. “We have multiple critical patients inside. Public gathering could disrupt care and increase the risk of infection,” the Medical Superintendent warned.
As the investigation continues and the community awaits answers, the focus remains firmly on the girl’s recovery and the hope that justice will soon be served.
