Protests erupt after stalker torches Class XII girl for rejecting his advances

New Delhi: Protests rocked Jharkhand after a stalker torched a 16-year-old schoolgirl after she rejected her advances.

Police have arrested accused Shahrukh Hussain. The girl had named him in her dying statement to a magistrate.

He called her on her mobile around 10 days back, pestering her to become his friend, she said.

He then called her again around 8 pm on Monday, threatening to kill her if she didn’t talk to him.

“I informed my father about the threat, after which he assured me that he would talk to the man’s family on Tuesday. After having our dinner, we went to sleep. I was sleeping in another room. On Tuesday morning, I experienced a sensation of pain in my back and could smell something burning. I found him running away when I opened my eyes. I started screaming in pain and went to my father’s room. My parents doused the fire and took me to the hospital,” she said.

She also named another person, Chhotu Khan, who the police are interrogating in custody.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced Additional Director General of Police will supervise the case; he also announced ₹ 10 lakh as monetary compensation for the family of the victim.

“The accused Shahrukh has been arrested. We’ll apply at fast track court for a fast trial. People are cooperating with us. We appeal to people to maintain peace. The situation is under control and Sec 144 has been imposed,” Dumka Superintendent of Police Ambar Lakda said.

“Such people should not be forgiven, they should be given the strictest of punishments. Laws should be brought in to further strengthen the existing laws for such incidents. A lot of evil acts are being seen in society. This incident is heart-wrenching, and the law is taking its course. The accused has been arrested. It is our effort to see that he is punished at the earliest,” he said.