Bihar: 10-year-old Vaishali girl set afire for refusing to dance

PATNA: In a horrific incident, a 10-year-old girl was set on fire by two youths seeking revenge, after the class VI student refused to dance with them in a local wedding ceremony in Vaishali district.
The duo poured petrol on the girl after a scuffle on Thursday morning, police said.
Hearing screams of the girl, the family members immediately rushed to the spot and rushed her to Hajipur Sadar hospital in a critical condition.
Police said the incident took place in Bahuara village, Rajapakar under Baraki police outpost area in the district, when the girl stepped out of her house in the morning. Two youths of the same village stopped the girl outside her house and allegedly dragged her to a secluded place by covering her mouth. When the girl screamed for help, they sprinkled petrol on her and set her ablaze. The accused escaped from the spot as soon as the family members of the girl and locals reached the spot after hearing the girl’s cries.
SHO Ganga Soren said they have identified Prashant Kumar (18) and Prateek Kumar (20) as the perpetrators.
During a wedding ceremony on Wednesday night, after the girl and her friends refused to dance with the youths, they were threatened.
“On Thursday when she left her house for nature’s call, they dragged her to a nearby field and set her on fire. The case has been registered against the accused, who are absconding after the incident. The police have been conducting raids to nab the accused,” Soren said.
SI Shailendra Sharma said the statement of the victim’s father has also been recorded.