15-Year-Old Girl Who Was Allegedly Molested By A Minor Boy Sets Herself On Fire

In a horrific incident, a 15-year-old girl set herself ablaze Tuesday after allegedly being molested by a minor boy, police said.

The incident happened in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The girl's family beat up the 16-year-old boy Monday for molesting the victim, Narendra Kumar Singh, superintendent of police said as per local news outlet News18. The following day, the girl set herself on fire. She suffered severe burn injuries and was rushed to a hospital to receive specialized treatment.

The girl's family initially did not report to the police that the teen girl had been sexually assaulted and had refused to lodge a complaint against the accused. However, they later alleged that the boy had often harassed and teased the victim. They said he had done the same on Monday. The police then gave the boy a warning and let him go, reported news outlet Times of India.

The next day morning, however, the girl set herself ablaze at her home after pouring kerosene on her. Now victim's family believes the girl tried to commit suicide as she was disturbed by the acts of the accused.

Investigators recorded the victim's statement in front of a magistrate before she was taken for further treatment. The police said that they are taking further action based on the complaint by the victim's family. Both the victim and the accused remain unnamed because they are both minors.

In a similar incident, a 16-year-old rape victim was brutally beaten and tied up with her 21-year-old rapist and paraded through a village in India on Sunday. A video of the incident went viral on social media. The mob reportedly comprised the victim's brothers and other family members. They were reportedly beating up the girl and harassing her in a bid to shame her while chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" (Long Live Mother India). The police arrested six people, including the alleged rapist, in connection with the incident.