A 40-year-old woman allegedly set multiple vehicles on fire near the Orissa High Court in Odisha’s Cuttack on Tuesday, and later told police she carried out the act to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said.
The accused, identified as Minati Sahu from Jagatsinghpur district, has been detained. During interrogation, she allegedly confessed to using petrol to set the vehicles ablaze, claiming she wanted to highlight an unspecified issue to the PM.
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The incident took place around 11.45 am near the high court gate, where Sahu allegedly poured an inflammable substance on parked vehicles. The fire initially broke out in an electric vehicle and quickly spread to two motorcycles and a nearby SUV.
Fire services personnel present at the court premises rushed to contain the blaze using extinguishers, but the flames engulfed the vehicles before fire tenders arrived and brought the situation under control. No injuries were reported.
The sudden blaze triggered panic in the busy Chandni Chowk area, with shops shutting down and people moving away from the vicinity. Owners also rushed to shift their vehicles to safer locations.
Police said initial suspicion pointed to a short circuit, but CCTV footage later confirmed it was a deliberate act of arson, showing the woman pouring a flammable liquid before igniting the vehicles. A minor boy, believed to be around five years old, was reportedly accompanying her at the time.
During questioning, Sahu also claimed she was “possessed by Goddess Durga” at the time of the incident. Police officials said she appeared to be mentally unstable and has been produced before a court. She is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation as further investigation continues.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Apr 1, 2026 23:36 IST
