14-year-old Sagar girl sets self on fire over harassment

A 14-year-old girl set self on fire following harassment by four youth in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, the police said on Saturday.

A 14-year-old girl set self on fire following harassment by four youth in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, the police said on Saturday.

The police said the girl poured kerosene and set self on fire after returning from a friend’s house on Friday.

The victim’s family members, who were in another room, rushed to her rescue and she was sent to Sagar district hospital. Later she was referred to Bhopal with 70 per cent burns, the police added.

The police have also recovered a suicide note from her room.

According to sources in the hospital, the victim in her statement to nayab (deputy) tehsildar Nirmal Singh Rathod has accused Amar Raikwar, Gaur Raikwar, Arjun Raikwar and Ajay Raikwar, all residents of Ranipura, of harassment.

Superintendent of police Sachin Atulkar said that a police team has been sent to Bhopal to record the statements of the girl and family members.

The girl's father said the youth used to harass his daughter whenever she went out of the house.

He also added that he had lodged a police complaint in December 2014 against Amar Raikwar and since Raikar and his friends had been harassing his daughter.