VARANASI: A 16-year-old
Dalit girl, who was allegedly set ablaze by a youth at Farihan village of
Azamgarh on May 7, succumbed to burns during treatment at
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hospital on Tuesday.
The police have added murder charge in the FIR against the youth who is already under arrest.
The accused,
Mohammad Shafi, had gone to the girl’s house with an intent to outrage her modesty when she was alone.
He allegedly beat the girl when she offered resistance and later torched her by pouring kerosene oil on her body.
He was caught by local residents who had beaten the accused before handing him over to the police. The seriously injured girl was referred to BHU hospital in Varanasi for treatment.
The police had registered an FIR and booked the accused under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of IPC, SC/ST Act and POCSO Act.
In view of communal tension, heavy police force was deployed in the village to avert any untoward situation.
SO Nizamabad Chandra Bhaskar Dwivedi said, “Murder charge has been added in the FIR after the girl’s death. The situation is normal in the village.”
Representative image.