DU student set on fire

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 29

A 21-year-old second year Delhi University student was set afire allegedly by her stalker in north-west Delhi's Mukunpur area, after she refused to marry him, police said today.

The girl is in intensive care unit of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital with 70 per cent burns injuries, said police. Police said she is still in a critical condition.

The main accused Abhishek, 21, and seven other co-accused have been arrested and slapped with charges of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, house trespass, and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.

Abhishek, a dairy owner, who used to live near the girl's house, would allegedly follow her whenever she ventured out of her house, police said.

"The girl was doing her graduation from Delhi University through correspondence. The accused had been pressurizing her to accept him as her lover but she never responded to him," said a police officer.

The incident took place on Saturday evening when the girl showed her brother Dharmendra, 25, an SMS which she had received from Abhishek.

"In the message the accused had asked her to marry him," said a police officer.

Dharmendra went to Abhishek's house and warned him against following his sister.

In the meantime, around 9 pm, Abhishek arrived at the girl's house with 10-12 other men, which included his uncles and brother. They allegeldly beat the family members, including her mother, police said. 

The girl ran on the top floor of the house to save herself, but was chased down by the group, police said. After cornering the girl, Abhishek allegedly again asked her to marry him and the girl refused. Abhishek allegedly opened a nearby kerosene stove's lid and pour out the fuel on the hapless girl.

"He then lit a match stick and threw it on the girl before running downstairs," said Manoj, a local resident.