Jharkhand girl dies days after man sets her on fire, Section 144 imposed in Dumka amid protests by VHP

A 19-year-old girl who was set on fire by a person after she allegedly did not reciprocate to his overtures in Dumka district succumbed to her injuries in the early hours on Sunday. On Monday, a huge crowd gathered when the mortal remains of the victim were taken to the cremation ground for her last rites, amid tight security. Dumka MP Sunil Soren also attended the funeral procession. The accused, identified as Shahrukh, was arrested last week.

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The victim had said that the accused called her on her cell phone around 10 days ago, pestering her to become his friend. The accused again called the victim on her phone on 22 August and threatened to kill her if she did not talk to him. She then informed her father after which he assured her that he would talk to the man’s family on Tuesday, 23 August. But in the same night the incident happened when deceased family members were sleeping. According to police, the accused threw the inflammable liquid into the room and lit up the curtains. He also threw the liquid inside the room so that she could not escape and was trapped inside. Her family and friends rescued her and rushed the 19-year-old girl, a student of Class 12, to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition with 90 per cent burns. Later, she was referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for better treatment, the police said. “The woman succumbed to burn injuries during treatment at RIMS, Ranchi, around 2.30 am on Sunday. Her body will be brought to Dumka after the post-mortem examination,” Dumka town police station in-charge Nitish Kumar told PTI.

CM announces compensation of Rs 10 lakh to kin

Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim’s family and ordered a fact track investigation in the case. He directed the Director General of Police to submit a progress report soon, according to a report carried out by news portal Quint. Meanwhile, Governor Ramesh Bais took cognizance of the case and summoned the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) to the Raj Bhavan regarding this matter. Meanwhile, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) accused BJP leaders of trying to play “communal politics” over the heinous incident. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya stated, “Dumka incident was condemnable. The BJP should refrain from doing communal politics over it. The government also wants punishment through trial in the fast track court.”

VHP holds protest, Section 144 imposed

The death triggered protests by Hindu groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal in Dumka town, following which prohibitory orders were placed. Dumka Sub-Divisional Officer Maheshwar Mahto told The Indian Express that Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been invoked in the town area. “Without any prior permission all public gathering including protests, religious processions is restricted,” said Mahato. “We have recommended a speedy trial and have given a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the victim’s family. We are in the process of getting the family more compensation… The accused used to harass the woman. The authorities did not know this because the family never complained,” said Dumka Deputy Commissioner RS Shukla.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM