Girl dies after being set on fire allegedly by jilted lover in Jharkhand

Protests have erupted in Jharkhand's Dumka after a girl who was allegedly set on fire by a man for turning down his proposal died on Sunday.

The police have imposed Section 144 prohibiting any large gatherings in the area.

The incident happened in Dumka town on August 23 when the accused, identified as Shahrukh, allegedly poured petrol on the woman from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire, the police said.

The woman, a student of Class 12, had been first admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition with 90 per cent burns.

Later, she was referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for better treatment, the police said.

The accused was arrested on August 23 itself.

According to the statement given to an executive magistrate, the woman had said that the accused called her on her mobile around 10 days back pestering her to become his friend.

“He called me again around 8 pm on Monday and told me that he would kill me if I did not talk to him. I informed my father about the threat after which he assured me that he would talk to the man’s family on Tuesday. After having our dinner, we went to sleep. I was sleeping in another room.

“On Tuesday morning, I experienced a sensation of pain on my back and could smell something burning. I found him running away when I opened my eyes. I started screaming in pain and went to my father’s room. My parents doused the fire and took me to the hospital,” the woman had spoken with great difficulty while the police recorded her statement.

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(with PTI inputs)