Charred body of 20-year-old college girl found at her home in Odisha

The charred body of a 20-year-old college girl was found in her house in Kendrapara district of Odisha on Wednesday (August 6, 2025).

When the parents of the girl returned from hospital, they found smoke billowing from their house locked from inside. After they broke open the door, they found the girl charred.

The victim was a final year undergraduate student. The girl’s father alleged that she had been in a relationship with a youth for the past two years and had taken her own life after being blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend, with whom she had broken up six months ago.

The matter took a controversial turn when the girl’s father alleged that the Pattamundai Rural Police Station had discouraged his daughter from filing a complaint against the boy for blackmail. Villagers claimed that timely police intervention could have prevented the mental distress that ultimately drove her to take such an extreme step.

Kendrapada Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria, who visited the house where girl’s body was found, said the issue of alleged suicide and negligence by the local police would be probed thoroughly.

Police filed a case under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) under the BNS. However, no suicide note was recovered. Police said further clarity would come after the postmortem report was received.

Congress to protest

Meanwhile, the Congress has announced a week-long campaign in protest against the increasing incidents of violence against women in the State. From August 8, Congress workers will gherao the office of the Director General of Police in Cuttack, demanding the arrest of the three culprits involved in the Balanga minor girl burning incident.

State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das has appealed to party workers and citizens to join the protest in large numbers.

(Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts are encouraged to seek help and counselling by calling the helpline numbers here)