Minor immolates self in Uttar Pradesh after repeated molestation by group of boys

An eighth standard student, feeling humiliated after repeated molestation by a group of boys, set herself ablaze in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district, about 450 kilometres from here.

According to sources, the minor who was admitted to hospital on Saturday with third-degree burns died on Thursday.

One of the culprits has been arrested, police said in Meerut.

The victim, a resident of a village under Bhawanpura police station, used to go for tuition at the nearby Gavadi village daily. Four boys of the village used to harass her on the way.

"The boys would pass lewd comments and even tried to outrage her modesty on some occasions," the father of the girl said. Though she had told him about it, he kept quiet as the boys belonged to influential families.

He said that on Saturday, the minor, after returning home from tuition, locked herself in her room and set herself on fire after pouring kerosene.

The family members broke open the doors and rushed her to the hospital. She was later referred to the medical college hospital in Meerut in a serious condition. She died on Thursday, police sources said.

In her dying declaration, the victim named the four boys. One of them has been arrested and a hunt is on to nab the others.