JOIN USTeen harassed, burnt alive
A 16-year-old girl was burnt alive when she rebuked three youths who had been sexually harassing her and now wanted to give her a gift.
She sustained 90 per cent burns and died in the hospital on Tuesday after battling for life for a few hours.
The shocking incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit town, about 250 kilometers from here.
According to reports, the three youths, who lived in the same locality, had been harassing her for the past few days. Though the victim had told her family members about them, they chose not to report the matter to the police, fearing loss of face in society.
On Monday evening, they approached the victim while she was standing outside her house in Beni Chaudhary locality. They offered her a cell phone, saying it was a gift from them. The victim rebuked them and refused to accept the gift.
Sources said that the youths then tried to drag the teen away from the place. But when she raised an alarm, they allegedly poured kerosene oil on her and set her ablaze before fleeing.
Though family members and others rushed to douse the flames after hearing her cries, she had by then suffered severe burns. She was rushed to the district hospital but succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday morning, sources said.
An FIR has been registered against the three accused, who are absconding. A manhunt has been launched for them, police said.
Some days ago, a woman had allegedly been burnt alive with acid by a jilted lover in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district.
Incidents of crime against women have registered a sharp increase in the past few months. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has expressed serious concern over this, and instructed police to take stern and quick action such cases.