ABOHAR – A gangrape victim, who was allegedly upset over “threats” by her village’s sarpanch and his friend over the past two months, set herself on fire in Hanumangarh this morning. She succumbed to her injuries in the evening.
The police said the 18-year-old girl poured kerosene on herself and set herself a-fire at Surewala village in Tibbi segment of Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. As no one else was present in her house, neighbours rushed after hearing her cries. She was shifted to the Civil Hospital in Hanumangarh. Observing that she had suffered about 80 per cent burns, doctors there referred her to a Bikaner hospital. Station House Officer (SHO) Dinesh Kumar, who escorted the ambulance, informed in the evening that the girl had died.
Deputy Superintendent of Police RD Swami said he had investigated the complaint lodged by her father on May 26. The family had alleged that four persons had kidnapped her on May 8, raped her in a vehicle and held her hostage in Sriganganagar.
She was rescued with the help of some villagers later. Two accused were arrested, a challan was submitted in the court in August. However, in the investigation, sarpanch Joginder Singh and his friend Shingara Singh were not found guilty and hence exonerated.
The girl’s family has alleged that Joginder and Shingara had been threatening to “teach a lesson” to the victim and her father for the past two months for “implicating” them. The police have now initiated proceedings under Section 306 of the IPC against the accused for abetment to suicide.
