'They raped, set me on fire'

A year before my marriage, Nitya (the prime accused) had approached my parents and told them that he wanted to marry me. But they refused because he was jobless and did not have a good reputation, declared Mumbai gangrape victim’s before dying.

Mumbai gangrape victim’s dying declaration.

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Victim: Name withheld

Age: 25 years

Profession: Housewife

Address: Sion-Koliwada (north central Mumbai)

Police station: Antop Hill police station

Day and time: Monday, 9.15 pm

Dying declaration: I got married to a 34-year-old man who works with the BMC (Briha-nmumbai Municipal Corpor-ation) at Chembur in 2005. I have two children — a three-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.

A year before my marriage, Nitya (the prime accused) had approached my parents and told them that he wanted to marry me. But they refused because he was jobless and did not have a good reputation.

Even after my marriage, Nitya, his brothers Rajesh and Kumar, and their friend Shankar (all accused) used to harass me. After my husband left for work at 6 am, they would often call me and bang the door of my house but I never allowed them in. I did not tell anybody about the harassment because I was afraid of them.

On Monday, at 11 am, Nitya called on my mobile and asked me to meet him at Mahim. I refused. Later, at about 6.30 pm, Nitya, Rajesh, Kumar and Shankar came to my house.

They had brought along a canister full of kerosene. They insisted that I accompany them. When I declined, they got agitated and started assaulting and abusing me. When Rajesh, Shankar and Kumar held my hands, I warned them not to do this to me. I said would complain to the police. This infuriated them even more. Nitya raped me first followed by Kumar, Rajesh and Shankar.

After this, they held my hands. I resisted but they emptied the canister of kerosene on me and set me on fire.

When I started crying for help, the four men ran away. My younger sister, my father and neighbours rushed in and took me to Sion hospital.