Rani Pradhan, a resident of Ganjam district of Odisha, was preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. On Monday afternoon, she set herself on fire by pouring petrol on herself near the Panchayat Samiti office.

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Symbolic picture

In the Ganjam district of Odisha, a 20-year-old student preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam committed suicide by setting herself on fire. The girl set herself on fire due to the torture of her father and stepmother. People present at the spot somehow admitted her to the hospital for treatment but she died during treatment on Tuesday.

She lost her mother when she was 3 years old

The incident took place in Kukudakhandi village of Brahmapur Sadar police station area. Rani Pradhan, a final year graduation student, set herself on fire by sprinkling petrol on herself near the Panchayat Samiti office on Monday afternoon. According to acquaintances of the deceased Rani Pradhan, she was a brilliant student and was preparing for UPSC. When Rani was 3 years old, her mother died, after which her father remarried.

Father taken into custody

Police superintendent Sarvana Vivek M said Rani had suffered 90 percent burn injuries and was undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Police said preliminary investigations revealed that she took the extreme step because her father and stepmother had allegedly tortured her. "We have detained her father for questioning. The real reason will be known only after questioning her father and other relatives," the SP said.

Police said a case of unnatural death has been registered and an investigation is underway.