In a startling revelation, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly that the woman involved in the July 19 Balanga incident had set herself ablaze, contradicting earlier allegations of assault.
Responding to a query by MLA Ananta Narayan Jena, the CM cited the victim’s dying declaration recorded at AIIMS Delhi, where she was undergoing treatment.
According to the statement, the woman admitted to pouring kerosene on herself and igniting the fire.
The incident initially sparked outrage after the victim’s mother alleged that unknown individuals had forcibly taken her daughter to a riverside and attempted to kill her using kerosene and petrol.
A criminal case was registered based on this complaint.
However, the victim’s final statement—recorded in the presence of doctors and Delhi court officials—refuted the earlier claims, stating she acted alone. She succumbed to her injuries after 14 days of treatment.
The revelation has prompted a reassessment of the case and ignited public discourse around mental health, domestic distress, and the urgent need for early intervention mechanisms.
