Expressing anguish over the recent incident in Odisha where a 15-year-old girl was allegedly set on fire by three unidentified men, the Supreme Court on Monday said the country must act to protect its most vulnerable. Calling the situation “shameful,” the court said both immediate and long-term steps were needed to empower schoolgirls, homemakers, and rural children. The attack in Puri district came just days after a 20-year-old college student in Balasore died following a self-immolation attempt. She had accused a college professor of sexual harassment.
