Woman sets herself ablaze after being gang-raped

A labourer at a brick kiln tried committing suicide by setting herself on fire after she was allegedly raped by the factory’s owner and another man in the Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh.

The victim has sustained over 90 per cent burn injuries and is battling for her life at a hospital. The role of the local cops had come under sharp criticism as they had allegedly tried to hush up the incident and term it as a case of assault. A police sub-inspector has been suspended for dereliction in duty.

On Wednesday, the victim was allegedly raped by the brick kiln owner Aas Mohammad and a friend of his when her husband had gone out for some work. The victim felt so humiliated that she reportedly locked herself in a room and set herself ablaze after sprinkling kerosene oil over her body.

Locals rushed to the spot after hearing the victim’s cries and broke open the door. The victim, however, had already sustained 90 per cent burn injuries by that time, sources said.

The cops initially termed the incident as one of assault and molestation. When local media took up the matter, the senior officials took cognizance and registered a case against the owner and his friend.