A 40-year-old woman was detained after allegedly setting multiple vehicles on fire near the Orissa High Court in Cuttack, causing panic in the surrounding area. The incident occurred around 11:45 am near the court gate, where several vehicles were parked in a busy public zone.
The accused, identified as Minati Sahu from Jagatsinghpur district, reportedly used petrol to ignite the vehicles. According to police, the fire initially started in an electric vehicle and quickly spread to nearby motorcycles and an SUV, resulting in significant damage before it was brought under control.
Fire services personnel present at the court premises immediately attempted to contain the blaze using extinguishers, but the flames intensified rapidly. Fire tenders were later called to the scene and managed to douse the fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
The sudden outbreak of fire created chaos in the Chandni Chowk area of Cuttack, with people fleeing the spot and shopkeepers shutting down establishments as a precaution. Vehicle owners rushed to move their vehicles away from the affected area to prevent further losses.
Initially, authorities suspected a technical fault such as a short circuit, but CCTV footage later confirmed that the fire was deliberately set. The footage reportedly shows the woman pouring a flammable substance on the vehicles before igniting them. A young child, believed to be around five years old, was also present with her at the time.
During interrogation, Sahu allegedly stated that she carried out the act to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an unspecified issue. She also claimed that she was “possessed by Goddess Durga” at the time of the incident.
Police officials noted that she appeared to be mentally unstable. She has been produced before a court and is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation, while further investigation is underway to understand her motives and mental condition.
