Madhya Pradesh: Dalit woman burnt days after filing harassment complaint in Khandwa

A 19-year-old Dalit woman from a village near Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly set on fire by the son of a man she had accused of harassment. The incident occurred on Friday, days after the woman filed a police complaint against Mangilal, 48, a resident of her village, for trying to assault her.

According to the police, the woman had filed a complaint on October 7, claiming that Mangilal had tried to force himself on her while she was alone in a field. Mangilal was arrested and jailed the same day, but was released on bail on October 8. The woman’s family claimed they were threatened after her release.

On Friday, Mangilal’s son Arjun allegedly went to the woman’s house, poured petrol on it and set it on fire. She managed to escape and her family took her to the hospital. The woman was initially treated at the district hospital before being shifted to a hospital in Indore, where she remains in critical condition with burns covering 27 per cent of her body.

Arjun has been charged with attempt to murder under section 109 of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), police claimed.

Khandwa Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai said, “The accused has been arrested and charged with attempt to murder. We are carrying out a thorough investigation and the woman’s statement will be crucial.”

BJP leader Mukesh Tanve suggested the woman had attempted self-immolation out of fear, but police are treating the case as a criminal act. “A young girl from a village under our Kotwali police station attempted suicide. Four days earlier, someone had tried to violate her dignity and while the case was filed and action was taken, the accused was granted bail. He is not It is clear why there were fears that it would be doused with kerosene and set on fire,” he said.

Courtesy: Yourlondoncalling

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