Another minor raped, set on fire in Jharkhand

A NEIGHBOUR WAS HELD FOR RAPING THE GIRL WHEN SHE WAS ALONE AT HOME AND TRYING TO SET HER ABLAZE

DHANBAD: Days after the rape and murder of a teenager in Chatra two days ago, another 16-year-old girl is battling for her life with 70% burn injuries after being raped and set ablaze in a village in Jharkhand’s Pakur district, over 400km northeast of state capital Ranchi.

The survivor is under treatment in a hospital in Berham- pur in West Bengal because of its proximity to Pakur. This is the second case this week of a minor being sexually assaulted and set on fire in Jharkhand. Fifteen people were arrested from a village in Chatra district on Saturday in connection with the alleged rape and murder case on Friday.

The crime in Pakur took place on Friday but was reported to the police on Saturday. Police have arrested a neighbour named Bacchan Mondal in the case and sent him to judicial custody. The family in its complaint said Bacchan Mondal entered the house while the girl was alone and assaulted her. Later he also attempted to set her ablaze by pouring kerosene on her before escaping. Pakur sub-divisional police officer Shrawan Kumar said, “A team of police officers has been sent to Berhampur in West Bengal where the girl is undergoing treatment for recording her statement.”

Authorities have removed officer-in-charge of the Mufassil police station for showing ‘indifferent attitude in taking action against the accused’.

“The case has been handed over to Indu Sekher Jha, inspector-cum-officer-in-charge of Sadar police station for further investigation. A case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act besides other relevant sections of IPC has also been filed with the Mufassil police station,” Kumar added.

The survivor, who is a Class 10 student in a government school, was staying with her maternal uncle for pursuing academics.