Bhubaneswar: A 22-year-old woman from Odisha’s Ganjam, who had allegedly attempted self-immolation after accusing her father of sexually abusing her for years, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar.
The woman suffered 75% burn injuries after allegedly setting herself on fire on Thursday. She was initially admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and later shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar after her condition turned critical. She died despite intensive medical care, police said on Sunday.
The case had taken a major turn on Saturday after the woman’s father, a teacher by profession, was arrested on Saturday based on her complaint and evidence gathered during the investigation.
Police said the allegations surfaced when the woman named her father and two others while her statement was being recorded at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
The father was arrested based on prima facie evidence against him, Additional Superintendent of Police (Berhampur) Alok Jena said.
The woman alleged that her father had sexually assaulted her before her marriage and continued to abuse her even after she got married. The accused had allegedly borrowed Rs 10 lakh from the victim’s father-in-law but failed to repay the amount, said police.
The father-in-law asked the victim to ask her father to return the money. When she did so, the accused allegedly blackmailed her and threatened to make her intimate pictures public, following which she took the extreme step, police said.
Investigators have seized two mobile phones, one belonging to the accused and that of the victim. The scientific team has visited the crime spot and collected some physical and material evidence. A case has been registered at Nimakhandi police station.
Police also revealed that the investigation had uncovered additional leads and that the names of some other people had surfaced during the probe. Their possible involvement is being verified, and legal action will be taken if sufficient evidence is found.