The accused, after gang-raping the minor last night, set her on fire today, her family says
Highlights
- Teen was allegedly gang-raped by four men in Chatra district last night
- Panchayat 'punished' them by fining them Rs 50,000 and 100 kneel downs
- Enraged, they allegedly beat up her parents at her home, set her on fire
A 16-year-old girl in Jharkhand was burnt alive inside her home in Jharkhand on Friday, allegedly by men who had gang-raped her Thursday night.
The incident took place in the Naxal-affected Chatra district of the state.
The girl's family says the four men, allegedly drunk, kidnapped her last night from her house when everyone was away at a wedding. The men allegedly took her to a deserted spot and raped her.
When the girl's father went to the village council head and other members of the panchayat, the accused men were ordered to do 100 sit-ups and pay a fine of Rs 50,000.
Enraged, the men went to the girl's home, beat her parents and then set her on fire, the family said.
Two men have been arrested and police have formed a special team to investigate the incident.
The horrific incident emerges at a time there is public anger over child rapes this year, beginning with the kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The government recently put out an executive order to change the law and bring in the death penalty for child rapists.