In a shocking incident in Khammam district of Telangana, a 13-year-old girl was set on fire allegedly by her employer who tried to rape her and after she resisted, set her on fire. Though the incident took place on September 18, it has come to light on Monday (October 5).
Earlier, on Monday night, when the local police were informed, they took immediate action of shifting the victim to Hyderabad's Osmania Government General Hospital with 70% burns. On Tuesday (October 6), the accused was taken into custody.
The 13-year-old minor girl hailing from Pallagudem, near Khammam town, was working as domestic help in the household of a 28-year-old married man named Maraiah, her employer, who resides in Mustafa Nagar in Khammam town.
On September 18, when the victim was working, the accused, Maraiah, tried to rape her. But when the girl resisted and raised alarm, the accused poured petrol and set her on fire.
At that time, only Maraiah's father was at home. Maraiah's wife is pregnant and was at her parents' home.
Maraiah's father rushed to douse the fire but the girl had suffered burns all over the body.
Accused Maraiah took the girl to a private hospital in Khammam town where she was being treated since September 18. Though the girl suffered nearly 70% burns, the private hospital did not think it as a medico-legal case and did not report it to the police.
It is still not clear why the minor girl's parents did not complain to the police on September 18 itself or in the next few days. According to sources in the community, the accused tried to hush up the matter as "accidental fire" by saying that the victim caught fire as she was trying to light a diya and promised to take care of her treatment in a private hospital and pleaded with them not to tell anyone.
However, after 17 days, the ghastly issue came out and as soon as the local police got the news, they swung into action and shifted the victim to Hyderabad's Osmania Government General Hospital, where she is currently battling for her life.
"As soon as we got to know about this incident, we shifted the girl to Hyderabad's Osmania Hospital, took her and her parents' statement and booked a case against the accused under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 511, 307 (attempt to murder), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of IPC and section 10 of POSCO act," Khammam Assistant Commissioner of Police, Anjaneyulu, told Zee Media
"We have also nabbed the accused and will be producing him before the magistrate," he further added.
The police is also awaiting a report from District Medical & Health Officer (DHMO) to book a case against the private hospital where the victim was being treated from September 18.
"We have asked the DHMO to give a report on this hospital after inquiry and we are also consulting our legal team on how to proceed against this private hospital. Also, in the main case against the accused, we are trying to add Child Labour Act sections," the ACP added.