Bhubaneswar, Aug 16: A horrifying incident in Balipatna near Bhubaneswar has shaken Odisha, as police arrested three family members for allegedly setting a youth ablaze over a property dispute. The victim, Jyoti Ranjan Mathia, succumbed to severe burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Initially suspected to be a case of self-immolation, the narrative took a dramatic turn after a video surfaced in which Jyoti accused his father Surendra Mathia, stepmother Prabhati Mathia, and stepbrother Prashant Mathia of pouring petrol on him and setting him on fire.

“My father, mother and brother poured petrol and set me on fire… There is no property in my name,” Jyoti said in the video, recorded shortly before his death.

Following the video and a complaint filed by Jyoti’s wife Bijaylaxmi Mathia, Balipatna police launched a scientific investigation. Zone 4 ACP Abhimanyu Nayak confirmed the arrests, stating that forensic evidence supported the murder theory. The accused have been produced in court and may be taken on remand for further interrogation.

Neighbours reported hearing Jyoti’s screams before finding him in a charred state. He was first taken to Balipatna Community Health Centre and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where he died during treatment.

The case has triggered public outrage and renewed calls for transparency in domestic violence and property-related disputes. Police are also verifying the authenticity of the video and investigating the circumstances under which it was recorded.

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