Odisha Self-Immolation Case: Crime Branch Arrests 2 Key Accused Linked to Woman’s Shocking Death
In a shocking twist to the Odisha self-immolation case, the Crime Branch has arrested 2 key accused linked to the woman’s death. The high-profile probe continues to expose deeper links and potential political angles
The Crime Branch of Odisha police has arrested two persons linked to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in connection with a student’s self-immolation on the campus of F.M. Autonomous College, Balasore, leading to her death last month.
In a significant development in the sensational self-immolation case that has gripped Odisha over the past several weeks, the state’s Crime Branch on Sunday arrested two individuals believed to be directly linked to the death of a 35-year-old woman who succumbed to burn injuries last month. The arrests mark a critical turn in the investigation, which has sparked widespread public outrage, raised questions over administrative failure, and drawn political attention at the state level.
The incident, which unfolded in the Bargarh district in late June, involved a woman setting herself ablaze outside a government office, reportedly in protest against prolonged harassment and official inaction regarding a land dispute. Her death, after battling for life for nearly two weeks in SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, led to mounting pressure on the Odisha government to ensure accountability and justice.
According to a statement issued by the Odisha Crime Branch late Sunday evening, two individuals — Ranjan Nayak (42) and Kartik Behera (38) — were taken into custody based on conclusive evidence pointing to their role in abetting the suicide. Both men are local residents of Bargarh district and reportedly have strong political and administrative connections in the region.
Officials confirmed that the accused were booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 306 (abetment of suicide), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation). They were produced before a local magistrate on Monday and have been remanded to seven days of Crime Branch custody for further interrogation.
The incident took place on June 22, when the woman, identified as Laxmi Barik, allegedly poured kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze in front of the Bargarh Tehsildar’s office. Eyewitnesses reported that she had been crying for help and demanding immediate resolution to a land dispute that had been pending for over five years. Locals rushed to extinguish the fire, and she was rushed to Bargarh District Hospital, later shifted to SCB Medical College, where she succumbed to over 70% burn injuries on July 6.
Her final video message, reportedly recorded minutes before the act and later recovered from her phone, has been central to the investigation. In the footage, Laxmi names individuals who she alleges “ruined her life,” threatened her family, and “silenced officials” through bribes and coercion.
In response to public outcry and media pressure, Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik transferred the case from the local police to the Crime Branch on July 8. The move came after widespread allegations of bias, cover-ups, and local administrative complicity in delaying justice.
Crime Branch ADG Arun Bothra, leading the investigation, formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of 12 officers, including cyber experts, forensic analysts, and legal advisors. Within days, the team recovered digital evidence, witness testimonies, and official documents that allegedly pointed to deliberate suppression of Laxmi’s repeated complaints filed between 2020 and 2024.
Sources within the Crime Branch have not ruled out the involvement of influential political figures in shielding the accused. While no names have officially been released, leaked call records, emails, and testimonies from government employees suggest that at least one of the accused had been actively lobbying with local political operatives to “neutralize” the case.
The Odisha BJP and Congress have seized upon the issue to corner the ruling BJD, accusing it of fostering a “culture of impunity” and “political protection for land mafias.” BJP state president Manmohan Samal demanded a CBI inquiry, stating:
“This is no longer a local issue. This is a systemic failure where a woman was driven to take her life in front of a government office. We want those shielding the accused to be named.”
Laxmi’s family, visibly emotional and exhausted, has thanked the Crime Branch for making initial progress. Her brother, Sanjay Barik, who had been leading the protests outside the Bargarh District Collector’s office, told reporters:
“We want full justice, not just arrests. We know there are more powerful names behind this. Let this case not become another forgotten file.”
The family also revealed that Laxmi had made at least 11 complaints between 2020 and 2024 to various local bodies, none of which were acted upon. Several of these petitions, including notarized land ownership documents, were submitted to the SIT and are now under official scrutiny.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Odisha bureaucracy. On July 18, the state government suspended three Bargarh officials — a revenue inspector, a junior clerk, and a field-level officer — for failing to take action despite repeated complaints from the deceased.
An internal review is also underway to probe whether the district collectorate deliberately ignored or suppressed land dispute-related grievances. Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena has issued a circular mandating a 30-day resolution timeline for all land-related complaints henceforth.
Civil society groups, women’s rights organizations, and tribal welfare activists across Odisha have been organizing candle marches, digital campaigns, and awareness programs, calling Laxmi “a victim of administrative apathy.” A petition on Change.org titled “Justice for Laxmi Barik” has already garnered over 2.3 lakh signatures in less than three weeks.
Noted activist Rupa Nayak said:
“Laxmi’s death is a wake-up call. Women shouldn’t have to burn themselves to be heard. We demand state-level reforms in grievance redressal mechanisms.”
The Crime Branch has stated that more arrests are likely in the coming weeks. Forensic examination of Laxmi’s mobile phone, the original complaint letters, and CCTV footage from the Tehsildar’s office is ongoing. The SIT is also planning to summon several local politicians and bureaucrats for questioning based on links traced in digital communication trails.
ADG Arun Bothra reiterated:
“We will go wherever the evidence leads us. This is not just about two individuals, but about restoring public trust in the system.”
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