Bhubaneswar: A wave of sorrow swept through Bayabari village in Puri district on Sunday morning as the final rites of the Balanga assault victim were performed amid tight security and emotional scenes. The 17-year-old girl, who succumbed to severe burn injuries days after being set ablaze, was buried following collective prayers and traditional Islamic rites.
The body reached her ancestral village early Sunday, accompanied by family members and a police escort. As the hearse entered the village, cries of grief echoed through the air, with distraught locals gathering to mourn the young life lost under tragic circumstances.
The funeral saw the presence of leaders across party lines, including Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who joined the community in offering prayers. The Puri district administration had made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth ceremony, deploying security personnel to maintain calm in the emotionally charged environment.
The victim’s mortal remains had arrived in Bhubaneswar late Saturday night around 11:15 p.m. via an Indigo flight from Delhi, after an autopsy was conducted at AIIMS. A massive crowd had gathered at Biju Patnaik International Airport, with political leaders and party workers from the BJP, BJD, Congress, and others coming together in a rare display of unity to pay their final respects.
To manage the growing crowd and prevent unrest, six platoons of police were stationed at the airport and along the route to Bayabari. From there, the body was directly taken to the village in a hearse van and laid to rest following morning prayers.
The victim’s tragic story began on July 19 when she was allegedly set on fire near the banks of the Bhargavi River in Balanga. Severely burned, she managed to reach a nearby home for help. Locals rushed her first to Pipili hospital and then to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The following day, she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced treatment.
Despite medical efforts, the girl succumbed to her injuries on Saturday evening, prompting widespread public outrage and renewed demands for justice. The case has since triggered protests and sparked conversations about women’s safety in the state.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities under pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.
