AGRA: In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old class IX girl was allegedly gang-raped and set ablaze by the rapists in Bewar block of Mainpuri on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The girl succumbed to severe burns at the district hospital. Though police have lodged an FIR, the accused is absconding.

The girl was a resident of Mehmoodia village under Bewar block of Mainpuri. According to the complaint lodged by the girl’s father at Bewar police station, local hoodlum Sunil, son of Rampal, along with three accomplices forced their way into their way into his house their home on Friday. The girl was alone in the house at that time as her mother was working in the nearby fields. The miscreants gang-raped her and doused her with kerosene and set her ablaze.

Neighbours rushed to the house on hearing the burning girl’s cries for help. They threw water on her to douse the fire. Her mother also rushed back home. The hoodlums in the meantime fled from the spot.

Neighbours rushed the girl to a nearby hospital. As she had suffered 80% burns, she was referred to Mainpuri district hospital, where she breathed her last in the early hours of Saturday.

The girl's father alleged that the policemen at the Bewar police station initially refused to lodge a complaint against the rapists. Later, a named FIR has been filed against Sunil along with three other accused — Neeraj. son of Dashrath Katheria, Shekhu and Subhash Sharma.

SP, Mainpuri, Shreekant Singh said an FIR has been lodged against the four accused for attempt to rape and murder. “Rape is yet to confirmed. Police are waiting for the autopsy reports. Raids are being conducted at various spots to nab the accused,” Singh added.

