Balasore: A decomposed body of a 14-year-old girl, who had been missing since last week, was found in a paddy field in Balasore district on Thursday.Preliminary reports suggest that burn marks were visible on parts of her face, chest and abdomen. Police have seized the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the incident.The girl’s sandals and scarf were found some distance away from the body, enabling her family members to identify her. The family has alleged that the minor was gang raped and subsequently murdered. They further claimed that the accused attempted to destroy evidence by setting parts of her body on fire. However, police have not officially confirmed these allegations and the post-mortem report is awaited.“A thorough investigation is being carried out by a special team constituted for the purpose and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” additional SP Paresh Rout said.The girl had reportedly gone to a local market with a friend on Oct 15 but did not return home. Following her disappearance, her family members lodged a complaint at the local police outpost, alleging that a youngster had abducted her.According to the family, the suspect was detained by police for questioning but was later released without any significant effort being made to trace the missing girl. The family has also accused the police of negligence in handling the case.An aunt of the deceased alleged that despite informing the police about the suspected abduction, the prime suspect was released after being detained for two days. She demanded stringent punishment for the perpetrators and action against police officials for their alleged lapse in duty.The incident sparked protests in the area, with villagers staging a road blockade and demanding justice for the victim. They also sought strict action against those responsible for the crime. Police later lifted the road blockade.