Ranchi, Jan 9 (IANS) A woman in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district was set ablaze by a group of men after she resisted their rape attempt, police said on Monday.
The woman suffered severe burns and has been admitted to RIMS, Ranchi.
The FIR has been lodged on the basis of the victim's statement, against the men who are all said to be her relatives and acquaintances.
Hazaribagh SP Manoj Ratan Chothe said that along with recording the victim's statement, the police are conducting raids to arrest the accused persons.
The victim alleged that she was sitting at her shop that she runs from her home on Saturday evening, when the accused asked her to lend Rs 100, after buying toffees.
An argument broke out among them when she refused, following which they entered her house through the back door and attempted to rape her.
The accused doused her with petrol before setting her ablaze and fled from the spot.
The neighbours reached her house after hearing her screams.
The woman was taken to Sheikh Medical Bhikhari College, but was referred to RIMS in view of her critical condition.
The statement includes the names of Lalit, Gaurav and Harjeet.
This is the fourth such incident to take place in the state in the recent months.
Earlier, a girl student was set ablaze by her neighbour after dousing her with petrol, prompted by his unrequited love on August 23, in Dumka district. The victim succumbed to her injuries.
In October, a girl was set ablaze by her lover in Bhalki village of Jarmundi police station area in the same district.
Similarly, the third incident took place in Kharikasol village, wherein a woman was set ablaze by her husband.
The delegation has demanded that the police should avoid unilateral action and arrest the culprits as soon as possible, and take stern action against whoever is guilty without any discrimination.
Seven others were injured in the mishap, who have shifted to the BDK Hospital in Jhunjhunu. As per the locals, around 18 members of a family had gone to immerse the ashes of an elderly family member who passed away recently when their vehicle overturned.
Superintendent of Police, Rae Bareli, Shlok Kumar said that the main accused in the case is a minor and has been sent to a juvenile home, while six others, identified as Abhishek, Vikas Pasi, Mahendra Kumar, Hrithik Singh, Aman Singh and Yash Pratap are majors and they have been arrested.
Denying bail to the jeweller Dev Varma (40), Chief metropolitan magistrate Pankaj Sharma said in the Monday's order that some of the expensive jewellery in connection with the crime was yet to be recovered and pointed out the Delhi Police's stand in the matter.
Orthopedic specialist Dr. Satish Kumar Poonia working in Ringus CHC, his wife Sarita Poonia, son Raja alias Daksh (14), Poonia's brother-in-law Rajesh Devanda (35) and Rajesh's wife Reena died in accident. The search is on for the doctor's two-year-old daughter Rajvi and her brother-in-law's elder brother's 4-year-old daughter Gudiya in the canal.
As per the latest findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the state's financial crisis is set to worsen with the debt likely to reach Rs 3.73 lakh crore by 2024-25.
