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India Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
15-year-old Puri girl doused with petrol, set on fire. Naveen Patnaik blasts BJP
A 15-year-old girl was doused with petrol and set on fire in Odisha's Puri on Saturday, coming on the heels of the death of a college student who self-immolated herself after complaining of sexual harassment by a minor, who has suffered 70% burn injuries, has been to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and is critical. The incident happened in Bayabar village when the girl was going to her friend's house. She was waylaid by three miscreants, taken to the banks of the River Bhargavi and set on incident happened just 1.5 km away from the Balanga police station. The trio fled after the incident. The police have launched a manhunt for the miscreants.A senior police officer said that the girl suffered burn injuries to her back, abdomen and other victim's cousin brother said she was kidnapped, tied up near the river and set on fire. He said the incident happened barely 500 metres from their house. "My sister was going to her friend's place carrying some books. On the way, three people kidnapped her. They tied her up near the river and set her on fire using petrol. We don't know why she was attacked. We have filed a complaint with the police," he media reports said the girl's family has ruled out personal enmity or a love affair angle as possible CHIEF MINISTER REACTSDeputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the police have been instructed to immediately arrest the culprits."I am deeply pained and shocked to hear the news that some miscreants in the Balangir region poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl on the road and set her on fire... All necessary arrangements are being made for her treatment. The government will bear all medical expenses," Parida said."The police administration has been directed to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action," Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, PATNAIK SLAMS BJPTearing into the ruling BJP government, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said such incidents against women had become almost daily across the state."These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished," Patnaik squarely blamed government inaction for Odisha becoming highly unsafe for women."Will the government wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly, will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated?" he MODI HAS BLOOD IN HIS HANDS'Calling it an incident of "criminal negligence", the Trinamool Congress lashed out at the ruling BJP government, remidning it of its 'Beti Bachao' slogan."BJP, where is your Beti Bachao slogan now? Where is NCW hiding? Or are they too busy witch-hunting opposition voices instead of protecting India's daughters? This isn't governance. It's criminal negligence. PM Modi, blood is on your hands!" the TMC, which has an axe to grind with the Odisha government over the alleged detention of Bengali migrants, incident comes at a time when tempers are yet to soothe in Odisha over the death of a student of Fakir Mohan 20-year-old student set herself on fire on July 12 after her repeated sexual harassment complaints against a professor allegedly went unaddressed by the college second-year student suffered 95% burns and passed away at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday.- Ends
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
41 children found begging rescued in raids across 18 locations in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: In a significant move to eradicate child begging, 41 children were rescued in the last two days during 18 raids conducted across various locations in Punjab under the state's intensified child protection initiative, Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0 – Save the Childhood. Authorities have ordered DNA testing in suspicious cases to verify whether the accompanying adults are the children's biological parents. Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said, 'When we see small children forced to beg on our streets, it is not just their dignity that suffers, it raises serious questions on our society's collective conscience and on the honour of Punjab itself.' The minister explained that the earlier version of the programme, Project Jeevan Jyot 1.0, launched in September last year, led to the rescue of 367 children across 753 raids. Of these, 350 children were reunited with their families. Seventeen children whose parents could not be identified were placed in Child Care Homes (Bal Ghar), while 150 rescued children from other states were repatriated to their families under the same initiative. Dr Kaur noted that the project also focused on reintegration through education and financial support. 'A total of 183 children were admitted to schools, and 13 children under the age of six were enrolled in Anganwadi centres for early childhood care. Additionally, 30 children from extremely poor families were enrolled in the Sponsorship Scheme, receiving ₹4,000 per month to ensure their education continues uninterrupted. Another 16 children were brought under the state's pension scheme, receiving ₹1,500 per month,' she said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
‘Verify relationship' Pb govt orders DNA testing on child beggars, adults
Chandigarh: In a move aimed at checking child trafficking and their exploitation for begging, the Punjab government directed all Deputy Commissioners (DC) to conduct DNA tests on children found begging with adults on the streets to verify their relationship, officials said on Thursday. Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur issued the orders. If a child is found begging with an adult, a DNA test will be conducted to verify their family ties. Until the results are made available, the child will stay in a child care institution under the supervision of child welfare committees. Officials assured strict action if the DNA test confirms that the adult is not related to the child they are accompanying. The directions were issued to all DCs by the Directorate of Social Security (Women and Child Development) under the project Jeewanjyot-2. An official highlighted that the child welfare committees in districts will identify such cases where it appears that a child is being forced to beg alongside an adult, and their relationship seems suspicious. The cases will then be referred to the deputy commissioners, who will recommend conducting the test. Last month, Kaur had issued directions to all DCs to declare their respective districts as 'beggar-free' and ensure regular monitoring in this regard. She emphasised that the state government was firmly committed to the protection of children and was adopting a sensitive yet stringent approach to eliminate child begging. Additionally, she announced that amendments would be made to the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act (1971), aimed at introducing stricter punishments and heavy penalties against racketeers, guardians, or parents found forcing children to beg at traffic lights and public intersections.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- General
- Deccan Herald
Punjab govt orders DNA testing on child beggars, adults with them to verify relationship
The directions were issued to all DCs by the Directorate of Social Security (Women and Child Development) under the project Jeewanjyot-2.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Punjab Government orders DNA testing on child beggars with adults to verify relationship
'In a move aimed at checking child trafficking and their exploitation for begging, the Punjab Government directed all Deputy Commissioners (DC) to conduct DNA tests on children found begging with adults on the streets to verify their relationship,' officials said on Thursday (July 17, 2025.) Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur issued the orders. If a child is found begging with an adult, a DNA test will be conducted to verify their family ties. Until the results are made available, the child will stay in a child care institution under the supervision of child welfare committees. Officials assured strict action if the DNA test confirms that the adult is not related to the child they are accompanying. The directions were issued to all DCs by the Directorate of Social Security (Women and Child Development) under the project Jeewanjyot-2. An official highlighted that the child welfare committees in districts will identify such cases where it appears that a child is being forced to beg alongside an adult and their relationship seems suspicious. The cases will then be referred to the Deputy Commissioners, who will recommend conducting the test. Last month, Ms. Kaur had issued directions to all DCs to declare their respective districts as 'beggar-free' and ensure regular monitoring in this regard. High Court issues notice to Punjab and Haryana governments on petition challenging anti-begging laws She emphasised that the State Government was firmly committed to the protection of children and was adopting a sensitive yet stringent approach to eliminate child begging. Additionally, she announced that amendments would be made to the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act (1971), aimed at introducing stricter punishments and heavy penalties against racketeers, guardians, or parents found forcing children to beg at traffic lights and public intersections.
