Two cops suspended in Ludhiana girl immolation case

PTI

LUDHIANA: Two policemen have been suspended for negligence in connection with the death of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly set ablaze by six youths, including three she had accused of rape.

Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs) Balbir Singh, in-charge of Kanganwal police chowki, and Mohan Lal, in-charge of Focal Point police chowki, were placed under suspension yesterday, the Punjab Police said on Wednesday.

The victim’s mother in her complaint had alleged that both ASIs had refused to register an FIR when she reported the matter to the police after her daughter was allegedly set ablaze by six youths.

The alleged rape victim yesterday succumbed to her burn injuries at a government hospital in Chandigarh. The funeral of the victim took place last night amid tight security.

A group of six youths, including three rape accused, had allegedly set the girl afire after sprinkling kerosene on her at her house in Prem Nagar colony of Dhanduri Khurd on December 4. The victim had received 80 per cent burn injuries in the incident.

The girl had lodged a complaint of rape against three of them two months ago. The three were arrested and were on bail, the  police said. Of the six accused, four had been arrested by the police.

The police have assured the victim’s family members that the charge sheet in the case will be filed within a week and efforts would be made to get the case transferred to a fast track court.
Heavy police force is deployed outside the victim’s house. -PTI