Cuttack: In a heart-rending incident, some miscreants Thursday tried to kill a Plus II second year girl by setting her ablaze at Mansinghpatna here, police said.
The miscreants reportedly tied the limbs of the girl and sedated her with an injection before the immolation attempt, police added.
Locals rescued the girl with burn injuries on his face, head and hands. The victim was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital where her condition is stated to be stable.
According to locals, the girl, a student of Christ College, along with her family members has been staying in a rented accommodation at Mansinghpatna for the last one year. Her father is an auto-rickshaw driver.
“The girl was alone in the house after returning from college. Her mother had gone to a nearby temple while her father was away. Taking advantage of the situation, four miscreants entered the victim’s house and tied her hands and legs with a dupatta (stole). The miscreants poured kerosene on the girl and set her on fire before fleeing the spot,” said a police officer.
The girl’s landlord along with a few locals rescued her, added the officer.
“I spotted smoke billowing out of the house around noon. I rushed to the spot and pulled her out,” said Sudarshan Jethi, the girl’s landlord.
On being informed, fire brigade personnel reached the spot and doused the fire. “It took us an hour to douse the blaze. However, all the household goods were reduced to cinders,” said a fire brigade personnel.
Sources, meanwhile, claimed that a video of the girl had gone viral on social media a few days ago. “Our investigation is on. We suspect a love angle to the incident,” said a police officer on conditions of anonymity.
