The sensational immolation of 17-year-old girl Ankita Singh in Dumka by her stalker has triggered massive protests across Jharkhand.
Ankita’s neighbour Shahrukh Hussain poured petrol on her and set fire to her four days ago when she was sleeping in her house. She succumbed to injuries on Sunday.
The girl named Shahrukh in her dying statement to a magistrate. She also named another person, Chhotu Khan, who the police are interrogating in custody.
Shahrukh was seen in a video smiling as he was arrested by the police.
The issue has snowballed into a political issue as the Opposition BJP attacked the JMM/Congress Government for its “appeasement policy”.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has announced financial assistance of `10 lakh to the family of the victim and ordered DGP Neeraj Sinha to file an early report on the progress of the investigation by an SP-rank officer. The CM has also directed the matter to be heard in the fast-track court.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that SDPO Noor Mustafa Khan has been removed as the Investigation Officer from the case. There were protests from the locals regarding negligence by SDPO Noor Mustafa in investigating the case.
Reports also suggest that former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das accused Noor Mustafa of being involved with the radical Islamist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).
The BJP-led Opposition lambasted Chief Minister Hemant Soren for not being sensitive to the issue of women safety. Former chief minister and BJP leader Babulal Marandi said that the CM was so busy enjoying his picnic party that he had no time to save this girl. He further said that while the state government can arrange an air ambulance for riot accused, no such facility was provided to airlift Ankita to AIIMS in Delhi. Babulal Marandi accused DSP Noor Mustafa for protecting the accused Shahrukh.
Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women on Monday directed Jharkhand DGP Neeraj Sinha for action taken reports regarding brutal murder of Ankita in Dumka by the accused Shahrukh.
“Since arrest has already been made, we asked the Jharkhand DGP for an action taken report. There is a mindset that you forcefully ask a woman to marry you and if she refuses, set her ablaze. It is pathetic. There should be conversation on this,” said the NCW chief.