In a shocking incident, a Dalit rape victim from Madhya Pradesh's Itarsi area allegedly tried to commit suicide by setting herself ablaze, fearing that an accused in the case, who came out on bail recently may kill her, police said today.
The minor girl suffered 40 per cent burn injuries in the incident yesterday and is being treated at a hospital here, police said, adding that her condition is stated to be stable and out of danger now.
She took the extreme step at her residence in Nayagaon, around 15 km from here, out of the fear that the accused would harm her, Itarsi Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Anil Sharma said.
She was raped in February this year following which two accused were arrested, he said.
The main accused in the case is still lodged in jail but one of his accomplices (Anil Yadav) was released on bail nearly two months back and since then the victim is gripped with a fear that he may take revenge or might kill her, Sharma said.
“It appears that in a disturbed state of mind yesterday, the rape victim poured kerosene to immolate herself,” he said.
Soon after the incident yesterday, Yadav was arrested and booked under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he added.
Police and social organisations were helping the victim and her family in all possible manner, the SDOP said.
(With PTI inputs)
