Woman burnt by the mob was Hindu, not Christian

The woman, Rajani Majhi, was a Hindu and a student of Padampur Women’s College in Bargarh district, said Deputy Inspector General of Police (northern range) Y B Khurania. Her biological father Laxmi Prasad Mahakud and foster father Guchu Majhi are both Hindus. They are residents of Nuapada village under Jharbandh police jurisdiction in the district.

Padampur Sub-Collector Prabhat Bhoi told The Indian Express that Majhi’s eagerness to rescue the children of the Khuntapali orphanage from the murderous mob of 300 led to her end. “The orphanage was running in a house with a tiled roof where some wooden construction material was stored. The roof was supported by wooden beams. So when the mob threw burning missiles, the wooden beams as well as the wooden construction material caught fire,” said Bhoi. The district administration gave Majhi’s family Rs 10,000 as ex gratia.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women on Wednesday set up a three-member team to inquire into the woman’s burning. The team will now visit the state and meet police officers investigating the case.