Ranchi, Jan 9 (IANS) A woman in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district was set ablaze by a group of men after she resisted their rape attempt, police said on Monday.
The woman suffered severe burns and has been admitted to RIMS, Ranchi.
The FIR has been lodged on the basis of the victim's statement, against the men who are all said to be her relatives and acquaintances.
Hazaribagh SP Manoj Ratan Chothe said that along with recording the victim's statement, the police are conducting raids to arrest the accused persons.
The victim alleged that she was sitting at her shop that she runs from her home on Saturday evening, when the accused asked her to lend Rs 100, after buying toffees.
An argument broke out among them when she refused, following which they entered her house through the back door and attempted to rape her.
The accused doused her with petrol before setting her ablaze and fled from the spot.
The neighbours reached her house after hearing her screams.
The woman was taken to Sheikh Medical Bhikhari College, but was referred to RIMS in view of her critical condition.
The statement includes the names of Lalit, Gaurav and Harjeet.
This is the fourth such incident to take place in the state in the recent months.
Earlier, a girl student was set ablaze by her neighbour after dousing her with petrol, prompted by his unrequited love on August 23, in Dumka district. The victim succumbed to her injuries.
In October, a girl was set ablaze by her lover in Bhalki village of Jarmundi police station area in the same district.
Similarly, the third incident took place in Kharikasol village, wherein a woman was set ablaze by her husband.
The arrested have been identified as Jaskaran Singh, lodged at Sub Jail in Goindwal Sahib, and Rattanbir Singh, who is out on bail. Police recovered 10 foreign-made pistols, including five .30 bore (made in China) and five 9mm (made in the US) along with eight magazines from both of them, besides a mobile phone concealed by Jaskaran Singh in his barrack.
The module is being jointly operated by Canada-based Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Rinda and Italy-based Harpreet Singh, alias Happy. The arrested accused has been identified as Yograj Singh, alias Yog, a resident of Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district.
A police officer said that the narcotic substances were recovered from several soap cases kept in hidden chambers in an 18-wheel truck. The police have arrested the driver Hannan Ali. The vehicle was coming from Manipur and the consignment was most probably to be delivered in Guwahati.
Delhi Police had sought the custody of the arrested persons, which was granted by a duty magistrate on Tuesday. The four persons were arrested on Sunday night. Recently, a fresh case under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was lodged by the Delhi Police against the members of PFI, which was banned for five years by the Centre last week.
Punjab Police have arrested 5,824 drug smugglers, including 916 big fish, since July 5, Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill said here on Tuesday. He said 203 kg heroin was recovered. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by Punjab Police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 350 kg in just three months.
Farmers under the aegis of Kisan Mazdur Sangarash Committee (KMSC) held protest and rail roko prorgramme at 17 different places in Punjab on Monday to mark the anniversary of Lakhimpur Kheri incident. It may be noted that 8 persons including four farmers had died during a protest in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, 2021.
