The girl, Anju, who suffered over 85 per cent burns, died on way to Gorakhpur medical college on Thursday evening. (Reuters)

A 19-year-old girl was burnt alive by her lover's father when her mother sought help of the panchayat to get her daughter married with the boy in Ikauna police station area of Deoria district on Thursday.

The girl's mother, Gyanwati, of Karahkol village, was allegedly beaten up by the village pradhan, members of the panchayat and the boy's father when she objected to the panchayat's decision turning down her request for the marriage.

The girl, Anju, who suffered over 85 per cent burns, died on way to Gorakhpur medical college on Thursday evening where she was referred for treatment. Anju's father is employed in Rajasthan.

Deoria Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar Srivastava said a case of murder has been registered against the boy's father and others who burnt the girl alive. One of the named accused, Kapil, has been arrested, he added.

Gyanwati told The Indian Express that her daughter was in a relationship with Ranjit of the same village for about two years. Ranjit got a job in Hyderabad a few months ago, where he was staying at present. Gyanwati said that she went to Ranjit's father Jai Hind Patel yesterday evening, requesting him to get his son married with her daughter, but Patel turned down her request as Ranjit and Anju belong to the same caste.

Gyanwati later contacted village pradhan Akhand Pratap Singh, seeking his help. The pradhan reportedly asked both sides to place the matter before the panchayat, which he called in the village on Thursday morning.

She said that the panchayat was held at 9.30 am where she again placed her request for her daughter's marriage with Ranjit, while Patel, who was accompanied by his family members and associates, refused.

Gyanwati alleged that the pradhan and the panchayat members, too, gave their decision that the couple could not marry as it would send a wrong message among other girls and boys in the area.

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