A Dalit fifteen-year-old girl, that was allegedly set on fire in Bulandshahr, has passed away in Delhi’s RML Hospital, the police revealed on Wednesday.
The incident had occurred on Tuesday and the young girl succumbed in the night.
The girl was before allegedly raped by a local resident and the family members were being pressured to take back her complaint.
The FIR registered by the family says seven individuals entered their house and set her on fire using petrol.
In a video recording of the victim in a hospital, she can be heard purportedly saying, “There was an ongoing case of molestation by the same people who came today.”
Santosh Kumar Singh, Bulandshahr Senior Superintendent of Police, stated, “In August, a girl was raped by a man. He was arrested. The accused is currently in jail. On Tuesday, we received information that the same girl has been set on fire under suspicious circumstances.” He added, Till 11 p.m. on Tuesday, it appeared she had attempted suicide. But as per the family’s complaint, seven individuals tried to immolate her.”
He said seven individuals have been booked and three have been apprehended.
As per the victim’s family, those accused of setting her ablaze are relatives and the acquaintances of the accused, who is in prison for allegedly raping the minor, under the POCSO and SC/SC Act.
In the interim, the uncle of the victim stated, “We were being threatened to withdraw the rape case and accept the decision in the Panchayat. On Monday night, I received a call from an unknown number.” He included, “They told the family to withdraw the case or face consequences. At 9.30 a.m. Tuesday, when the girl’s parents were not at home, we were told that she was set on fire.”
The FIR names Sanjay, Banwari, Veer Singh, Badan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Gautam and Kajal. The police said they live near the victim’s home.
The FIR was registered under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 506 (criminal intimidation), 452 (trespass) and relevant sections of SC/ST Act. The FIR will be updated with section 302 (murder) after the victim passed away in the evening, the police stated.
