Youth tries to rape, burn girl

TT, Falakata (Alipurduar) Oct. 19: A youth who was in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl from his village allegedly tried to rape her last night and set her on fire when she resisted.

The girl has been admitted to the hospital and doctors said she had suffered 70 per cent burns.

The girl's brother has lodged a police complaint and police said the 22-year-old accused youth was absconding.

The girl's mother said: "Around 3am, the youth who was in a relationship with my daughter and stayed nearby called my daughter out of the house. He said he had to tell her something important. We were sleeping and my daughter went out through a window to meet him. The youth tried to rape my daughter and when she resisted, he tied her legs, hands and mouth and poured kerosene on her and set her on fire."

The girl is a Class IX student.

"Because my daughter stopped him, he tried to kill her. We heard her screams and when my son went out, he saw her in flames. We and some neighbours doused the blaze and took her to the hospital," said the mother.

She said, yesterday a family had come to see the girl for marriage and the accused youth did not like it.

"My daughter told me that the youth told her last night if he couldn't marry her, nobody else could," said the mother.

Soumyojit Purokayastha superintendent of Birpara State General Hospital said, % injury and normally burn more than 40% is and we are trying our best for the girl."

The girl's father is a daily wage labourer.

Avaru Ravindranath, superintendent of police, Alipurduar, said: "We have received a complaint and started an investigation. We have recovered a T-Shirt of the accused from his bedroom. It seems it had been used during the incident. Our officers visited the spot. They are going to the hospital to enquire about the girl."