Pipili (Puri): In a shocking incident, a Plus 2 girl student was allegedly set on fire by unidentified miscreants at Bayabar village under Nimapara Block of Odisha's Puri district on Saturday morning.

The incident took place while the girl was walking to her friend’s house. As per preliminary reports, three unidentified youths on a motorcycle intercepted her, tied a handkerchief around her face and allegedly poured a flammable substance on her before setting her ablaze.

The incident that occured around 5 to 7 kilometers from Balanga police station has caused widespread outrage, especially in light of the recent self-immolation case involving a girl student at FM College in Balasore.

Locals quickly rescued the girl and rushed her to the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where she is currently undergoing treatment. 

Reacting to the incident, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida directed police officials to ensure the immediate arrest of all the accused involved.

“Strict action will be taken against the culprits. The state government will bear all medical expenses of the victim,” said Parida, adding that she will visit the hospital to meet the survivor.

Police have launched a detailed investigation and efforts are underway to identify and nab the accused persons.