Lucknow: A 16-year-old in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad town is battling for life with 70 per cent burns after she was set on fire allegedly by her neighbour who attempted to rape her. When she fought off his attempts, he returned with his parents and doused her with kerosene, police said Monday.
The incident took place Saturday in Shankargarh locality in Allahabad, about 230km from here, Saturday. Police swung into action late Sunday after women’s groups protested.
Mohit Agarwal, senior superintendent of police in Allahabad, said teams were looking for the alleged attacker, 20-year-old Gyan Patel, and his parents.
The girl has been admitted to a city medical facility, an official said.
Police have lodged a first information report (FIR) and are conducting raids to arrest the assailant and his parents, who allegedly connived in the crime. An official said the girl has three sisters and is a Class 10 student at a local college.
Giving details of the crime, an official said the teenager was alone at home when Patel barged in and tried to force himself on her. The girl fought him back bravely and managed to avoid his advances.
Patel then fled the scene, only to return with his father Santosh Patel and mother Geeta. They then doused the unsuspecting girl in kerosene and set her on fire, police said.
Her sisters, who had gone to bring water from a nearby well, saw smoke coming out from their house and rushed back to see their younger sister burning. They managed to douse the flames but not before the girl was severely burnt.
Neighbours called an ambulance, which rushed her to a hospital where her condition is stated to be serious. Senior police officials took action only after local social worker Manju Pathak intervened Sunday afternoon.
Superintendent of Police (Crime) Arun Pandey went to the hospital and recorded the statement of the girl.
