Man Tries To Burn Daughter In Law Over Birth Of Girl Child

Bhubaneswar: A disturbing incident from Odisha has brought renewed focus on deep rooted gender bias after an elderly man allegedly attempted to burn his daughter in law and her newborn baby girl. The woman narrowly escaped with the infant, preventing a major tragedy.

The incident occurred in Kendrapara district where the accused Prafulla Ray aged seventy five reportedly became furious after his daughter in law Susmita gave birth to a girl child. Police said the family had been under tension since the delivery, with the woman facing repeated harassment.

On the night of the incident, Susmita was asleep on a bed with her newborn when the accused allegedly poured petrol on them and set the room on fire. Startled by the sudden flames, she woke up in panic, grabbed her baby, and ran out of the house to safety.

The woman spent the entire night outside with the infant after fleeing the burning house. By the time locals noticed the fire, household items had already been gutted. Neighbours alerted the police and fire services, who rushed to the scene.

During the investigation, police learned that Susmita had been subjected to cruelty by her husband and father in law ever since the birth of the girl child. The accused was taken into custody and booked under multiple sections for attempting to kill both mother and child.

Police officials said further investigation is underway, and necessary legal action will be taken based on evidence and witness statements. The incident has sparked anger among locals and raised serious concerns about violence driven by gender discrimination.