Maha teacher set on fire remains critical

NAGPUR: The condition of the 24-year-old woman, who was set ablaze by a man who was stalking her in Maharashtra’s Wardha district on Monday, continued to be critical, hospital authorities said on Tuesday.

The accused, Vikesh Nagrale, 27, was produced before the local court on Tuesday following his arrest on Monday. “Nagrale was produced before the local court on Tuesday morning and remanded to police custody till February 8,” Hinganghat police inspector SM Bhandivar said.

The incident occurred when the woman, a college teacher, on her way to college, alighted from a bus in Hinganghat town at around 7.30 am on Monday. Nagrale poured petrol on her and set her on fire.

The woman sustained 40% burns and inhalation injuries in the incident.

“At present, her condition is still critical... In view of her very critical condition, prognosis has been repeatedly explained to her relatives and police personnel,” said Dr Anup Marar, the director of Orange City Hospital.

Meanwhile, several people, including members of various political parties, activists, women and college students, marched from Nanduri Chowk to Ambedkar Square in Wardha in protest against the attack.

The protesters also submitted a memorandum to a senior revenue official in Hinganghat, demanding that the trial in the case be fast-tracked and the accused be given death penalty.

Residents of Hinganghat town and neighbouring areas also called for a shutdown,affecting normalcy in the area, PTI quoted an official as saying. “We have sent a proposal to the government to bear the cost of treatment of the victim,” Bhandivar said. State home minister Anil Deshmukh tweeted: “The victim will be provided all medical assistance... The case will be tried in a fast track court and he would be punished severely.”