Lucknow: Jilted ward boy sets govt staffer afire in her office

LUCKNOW: Incensed over a sexual harassment complaint being filed against him, a man spurned in love by a woman employee of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, set her afire in her office on Friday evening.

The assailant, a ward boy at KGMU Trauma Centre, also sustained 45% burns in the incident. The woman sustained 65% burns and is battling for life at Civil hospital.

Police said that the victim, Saima (name changed) (45) of Thakurganj is a class four employee in UP tourism department. A mother of five children, she got the job in 2012 on compassionate grounds after her husband’s death. Her eldest daughter is set to get married on March 5.

According to police, around 5.15pm, the attacker Sameer (32) went to room number 316 of UP Tourism office where Saima was alone.

He tip-toed up to her, poured an inflammable liquid on her and quickly set her afire. Saima was engulfed in flames while Sameer’s hands also got burnt. Another woman employee, Manju Mishra spotted the fire and ran out screaming to seek help. Other staff members rushed in and threw woollen clothes on both to douse the flames. They also called an ambulance and took Saima to Civil hospital and informed police.

Circle officer (Gomtinagar) Avnishwar Chand Srivastava said that a police vehicle was nearby when they got information about the incident. Police reached the spot and took Sameer to RML hospital from where he was taken to KGMU trauma centre. The probe till now has revealed that Sameer met Saima six months ago during treatment of her son at Trauma Centre, where he developed a fancy for her. He started visiting her home and office, Srivastava added. Last week, Saima filed a complaint of sexual harassment against Sameer at Hasanganj police station.

During probe Sameer told police that he felt that the woman used him and emotionally blackmailed him and then dumped him. “When I confronted her, she filed a complaint against me,” he told the police. Saima’s family admitted that the accused had helped them but said that they never knew about his nefarious intentions.

“A probe is on. Acting on the complaint of the victim’s son, an FIR has been registered on the charges of causing grievous injury and attempt to murder,” added Srivastava.