Refused rape : Woman burnt alive in Bihar by relative

Patna : A 22-year-old woman who was set ablaze on Wednesday night for resisting rape by a relative died on Thursday at the Bhagalpur medical college hospital.

According to the FIR, the accused, who is a resident of a nearby village, had visited the victim’s house on Wednesday and stayed overnight with the family. In the afternoon when he found the victim alone at home, he tried to rape her.

When the woman resisted, he set her ablaze. Neighbours and locals on hearing the victim’s cries for help rushed to her rescue. The villagers caught the man and thrashed him before handing him over to the police.

Requesting anonymity, a police official said that the woman identified the accused as culprit who set her ablaze in a statement made to a magistrate.

Police said the accused was the cousin of the woman’s brother-in-law. He was caught by locals who handed him over to the police.

A case was registered initially under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 307 (attempt to murder). “ Since the victim has died the investigating officer has been directed to incorporate other necessary sections in the FIR,” Bhagalpur SSP Ashish Bharati said.