Protest Erupts in India's Jharkhand as Teenage Girl Who Was Set on Fire Dies
© Photo : ANI
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The deceased had recorded her statement to an executive magistrate against both the accused when she was admitted to hospital, senior police officer Ambar Lakda confirmed.
A curfew has been imposed in the Dumka District of Jharkhand state, after a protest broke out over the death of a 19-year-old girl who died after being set on fire.
Police imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits gatherings of more than four people in a public area, as a precautionary measure against intensifying demonstrations.
The teenager was set on fire on 23 August by two Muslim men, one of them identified as Shahrukh Hussain. He had allegedly been harassing the victim for some time.
A 12th class girl Ankita from Dumka District, jharkhand was set on fire to death By Sharukh for not being relationship with him.
— Ajit Kumar Jha (@AjitKum37187562) August 29, 2022
Look at her smiling face he has no regret for what he did. #lovejihaad#JusticeForAnkita pic.twitter.com/GRuFz40aVe
According to media reports, the accused had allegedly poured petrol on the woman outside the window of her house and set her ablaze while she was sleeping.
Both the accused have been arrested.
Hours after the girl succumbed to her injuries, Hindu groups - Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal - staged a demonstration in Dumka city and later issued a memorandum to the senior police officer demanding justice for the victim.
On Monday morning, despite the curfew, hundreds of people gathered outside the house of the deceased for the performance of her last rites.
#Jharkhand Horror : Last funeral procession of #Dumka girl pic.twitter.com/WTTjRDTlns
— Himanshu dixit 💙🇮🇳 (@HimanshuDixitt) August 29, 2022
Jharkhand's main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is demanding INR 10Mln ($124,970) compensation and a government job for the victim's family.
Jharkhand's health minister Banna Gupta said: "The case will be fast-tracked and maximum punishment will be meted out to the culprit."
Dying declaration by #AnkitaKumari How Shahrukh Hussain kept threatening her to kill her & family. How he stalked her & other girls without any fear of #Dumka police! How he poured petrol & set her afire. These monsters deserve death #JusticeForAnkitaSingh #LoveJihad @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/OTCz8LndoX
— Debashish Sarkar 🇮🇳 (@DebashishHiTs) August 28, 2022
A senior doctor from the hospital where the victim was admitted told reporters, "[The] patient had suffered 45 percent burn injuries and the cause of her death is a cardio-respiratory failure."
