Girl set on fire over property dispute, suffers 80% burns

VARANASI: Saroj Bharati (22), the daughter of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable Ram Bachan, suffered serious burn injuries after her neighbours set her on fire after tying with a tree in Bharaulia village under Mubarakpur police station in Azamgarh district on Wednesday morning. She is struggling for survival at district hospital.
According to reports, Ram Bachan is presently posted in Varanasi while his wife has gone to Delhi for some work.Saroj was at home with her younger sister. On Wednesday morning, when Saroj went out her neighbours kidnapped her and took her at a lonely place. Her torn clothes hinted that the assailants also tried to sexually harass her.
They tied her with a tree and torched her. On hearing her cries villagers ran towards the incident site. But before they could reach the assailants fled from the scene. Saroj was immediately rushed to the District Hospital where her condition was stated to be critical. According to doctors she had suffered 80% burns. A named FIR was lodged against nine persons in this connection.
SO Mubarakpur Umesh Pandey said three accused including Jalandhar, Shriram and Ashish have been arrested while raids are continuing for the arrest of others. According to sources Ram Bachan has some property dispute with his neighbours and relatives. It is suspected that Saroj was targeted regarding the same enmity.
Meanwhile, in another incident Anjalika Mishra (15) of Asadh Bahedva village under Mirzamurad suffered serious burn injuries while preparing tea at her residence on Wednesday morning. She was admitted to SSL Divisional Hospital.