In yet another crime against woman in Jharkhand, a girl was set ablaze by a married man as she refused his marriage proposal. The man identified as Rajesh Raut has been arrested. Police said that the man knew the girl and wanted to marry her but she denied his marriage proposal.
On Thursday night the man entered the girl's house and poured petrol on her when she was asleep and set her ablaze. The girl, a resident of Bhalki village in Jarmundi area, was rushed to a local hospital by family members.
She was rushed to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital by family members, and doctors later referred her to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where she died due to burn injuries.
Speaking to the media persons, Jarmundi DSP Shivender said, "The 22-year-old girl has been referred to Ranchi for treatment. The boy was known to the girl. The accused is already married and wanted to marry the victim. The parents (of the girl) were not ready for the marriage. A probe has been initiated."
This is the second such incident in the past one and half years. Earlier in August, 16-year-old Ankita succumbed to injuries after a man had set her on fire for turning down his proposal in Dumka. The accused, identified as Shahrukh, was arrested for pouring petrol on the woman from outside the window of her room and setting her on fire while she was sleeping.
The Opposition BJP had protested strongly against the incident and had even staged demonstrations across the State. Meanwhile, about Thursday's incident, the Opposition BJP condemned the incident. BJP Spokesperson, Pratul Shadeo took a strong jibe and said there is a “total collapse of law and order machinery in Jharkhand”.
He connected the case with that of a class 12 girl, Ankita, who was also burnt alive while sleeping for burning down a proposal in Dumka. Ankita was set ablaze on August 23 and succumbed to her injuries on August 28 during her treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS).
The BJP leader said, “Fear of law has totally gone away from the miscreants and the people with dubious minds. It is yet another incident when another daughter has been burnt alive just because she refused the marriage. Where is the fear of the law?
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Vijay Hansda while assuring a thorough investigation into the matter said that there are some incidents and people who are of “criminal tendency” and the police administration will leave no stone unturned in the matter.
“In previous incidents as well, the way the administration has worked effectively at the places wherever such incidents are taking place,” JMM MP Hansda said.