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Stalker in Telangana rapes 17-year-old, sets her on fire: Police
The girl was alone at her house as her parents were in Hyderabad, where they work as construction workers, when she was attacked.
A 17-year old girl was allegedly raped and set on fire by a stalker in Telangana’s Suryapet district late on Friday, the police said.
The girl, a student of Intermediate second year (Class 12) from Raghavapur village of Thirumalagiri block, suffered more than 50 per cent burns and is presently battling for her life at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) government hospital at Warangal.
Thirumalagiri sub-inspector of police S Daniel quoted doctors to tell Hindustan Times that “her condition is critical”.
“The accused, identified as Venkatesh (24), who stays in the neighbourhood, is absconding,” he added.
Daniel said the girl was alone at her house as her parents were in Hyderabad, where they work as construction workers, when she was attacked.
Daniel said the suspect had been stalking the victim for the last two years and pressing her for marriage but she was avoiding him, as he was not educated and worked as an agriculture labourer in the same village.
“At around 9 pm, he entered her house and sexually assaulted her, before pouring petrol and setting her afire,” the SI said.
The girl ran out screaming and neighbours immediately put out the fire and rushed her to the local hospital. She was later shifted to the government hospital in Warangal with the police’s help.
Her parents were informed and reached Warangal hospital to see their daughter before filing a police complaint.
“They came to us on Saturday afternoon and lodged a formal complaint stating that their daughter was raped and set afire. They demanded stringent action against the accused,” the SI said.
Venkatesh has been booked under Section 307 (Attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code and also under relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, since the victim is a minor.
“We are awaiting the forensic report to confirm whether the girl was raped or not before she was set ablaze. The investigation is going on. We have launched a manhunt for the accused,” Daniel said.
