BHUBANESWAR: Four days after a 15-year-old girl claimed she was set afire by three motorcycle-borne men in Odisha’s Puri district, police are yet to find evidence of any bikers’ presence at the scene at the time of the alleged crime.A senior police officer said there was no evidence to support the FIR or the girl’s statement. Investigators went through witness accounts, reviewed footage from CCTV cameras installed within a 2km radius, and conducted forensic analysis of the area for vehicle movement but failed to find any evidence to support the girl’s claims.The girl, who is allegedly traumatised, requires more time to stabilise before providing further details that can help clarify the sequence of events. The teenager was airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi, from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. She is admitted in the burn ICU at AIIMS, Delhi, and underwent surgery for management of her injuries, hospital sources said Wednesday. Dr Rima Dada, professor in-charge, media cell, AIIMS, Delhi, said the patient was critical and on oxygen support.In the absence of evidence to confirm or refute the girl’s claims, police are awaiting her recovery to gather a more accurate account of the case, suggesting the probe might drag on. A witness, who was nearby during the alleged attack, reported not seeing any motorcycle at the time.Initially, the probe focused on the teenager’s statement and her mother’s complaint, which accused three unidentified men of attacking her with a flammable liquid. However, police are now exploring all possibilities. They have questioned numerous individuals, including acquaintances of the girl, local residents, and those with criminal backgrounds, but are yet to find any concrete lead.Puri SP 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.”
