India
Tired of being harassed, the minor girl grieved to her parents, who had warned the accused to leave her alone.
Kurnool: A 12-year-old girl in Andhra Pradesh was set ablaze by a 35-year-old man, who had been harassing her for several months in Badinehall village of Kurnool district. The minor girl suffered third-degree burns, and the accused was later arrested.
According to Adoni police, the accused is identified as Maulana Saheb (35), who is married. He had allegedly harassed the minor for months and had also sought sexual favours. Tired of being harassed, the girl grieved to her parents, who had warned Maulana to leave her alone.
On Saturday, rattled by her parents' threat, Maulana poured petrol on the minor girl and set her ablaze. The incident took place when the girl left home to buy groceries. After seeing the girl on fire, Maulana fled from the place, and the pedestrians rushed to save the girl. The residents rushed the victim to Adoni General Hospital from where she was later shifted to the Kurnool Government General Hospital (GGH).
According to media reports, Adoni circle inspector M Murali said that the accused was married and had three children.
A case was booked under related sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Section 307 (Attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Kowthalam police station.
Similarly, in September 2018, a 20-year-old girl killed self in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district by consuming pesticides after allegedly being harassed by her stalker. On September 11, the accused allegedly asked the woman to marry him as she was returning from college. As the girl refused his proposal, she was slapped in a moving bus.
Unable to bear the humiliation, the girl went to her farm, where she consumed pesticide. The victim died before she was shifted to the hospital.
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