"No conclusive leads yet": Odisha police on teen's burning case

Four days after a 15-year-old girl alleged that she was set on fire by three unidentified men on motorcycles in Odisha’s Puri district, police have found no supporting evidence to confirm the incident.

According to a senior police official, there is currently no proof validating the girl’s claims or the FIR. Investigators have examined CCTV footage from a 2-kilometre radius, spoken to local witnesses, and conducted forensic examinations of the area, but no signs of motorcycle movement or presence were found at the scene of the alleged crime.

The teenager, said to be deeply traumatised, is not in a condition to provide further details, which could shed light on the incident. She was recently airlifted to AIIMS Delhi from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and is currently being treated in the burn ICU. Doctors confirmed she has undergone surgery to manage her injuries. Dr. Rima Dada, professor in-charge of the media cell at AIIMS Delhi, said, “The patient was critical and on oxygen support.”


Due to the lack of corroborative evidence, police are holding off on drawing conclusions and are awaiting the girl’s recovery to collect a clearer statement. A key witness who was nearby during the incident also stated that no motorcycle was seen around that time.

Initially, the investigation relied on the teenager’s account and her mother’s complaint, which accused three unknown men of attacking the girl with a flammable substance. However, with no definitive leads, police are now considering all possible scenarios. Multiple people, including locals, known associates of the girl, and individuals with criminal records, have been questioned, but authorities have yet to uncover any breakthrough.

Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra said, “One must not speculate or attribute motives until the investigation reaches a more advanced stage. No conclusions can be drawn until solid evidence is obtained.”

[With TOI inputs]