A 17-year-old girl died on Wednesday, a day after she attempted immolation reportedly over repeated stalking and harassment by a local youth in Nagrota Surian area of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, around 220 km from here.
Police said the minor girl took this extreme step reportedly out of the feeling of humiliation after being regular stalking and harassment by a 27-year-old youth of her village.
The minor, who was staying at her maternal uncle’s place, poured kerosene oil and set herself on fire after returning from school on Tuesday evening.
Her family members, who heard her screams, rushed her to a nearby hospital but by then she had suffered over 90 per cent burn injuries.
She was referred to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, for further medical treatment, where she succumbed to burn injuries.
Sources said the accused, Lucky, used to harass the minor girl on her way to school on regular basis and she took the extreme step over the repeated humiliation. “Though she hadn’t informed about the same to her family as she didn’t want to trouble her family,” sources added.
In her statement to the police, the girl reportedly named the accused, but was unable to reveal more details as her condition was critical.
“Unfortunately the girl is no more. We have registered a case and booked the accused on the basis of the victim’s statement,” said Santosh Patial, Superintendent of Police, Kangra.
The accused has been arrested by the police and a case has been registered against him. The police have also invoked provisions of the POCSO Act against the accused.
It is worthwhile to mention here that it is not the first case of crime against women in Kangra district. Six days back, a 15-year-old minor was allegedly gang-raped by five men in a forest in Palampur area of Kangra district. Two of the culprits, who are juveniles were detained, but three accused are still absconding.