LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Dumka, Aug 29: 17-years-old Ankita Kumari Singh, who was set on fire by a jilted lover belonging to the Muslim community on August 23, was cremated in Dumka on Monday under high security.
Thousands of residents joined the funeral procession of Ankita today to bid adieu to her after her dead body was brought here from Ranchi where she succumbed to her burn injuries while being treated for the last five days at RIIMS.
A pall of gloom descended at the sub-capital town here following the news of Ankita’s death which the residents came to know on Sunday morning that sparked large-scale outrage among them with protesters including those affiliated with different right-wing organisations having taken to the streets to vent their ire against the local administration.
Dumka BJP MP Sunil Soren, Deputy commissioner Ravishankar Shukla, SP Ambar Lakda and their subordinates also accompanied the funeral procession which begin from Ankita’s home for the burning ghaat at Bediya along Mayurakshi river being three KM away.
For the matter pertained to interfaith communities, the administration swung into action soon after the news of Ankita’s death came in and a large number of forces were deployed at Jaruadih and elsewhere in the town beforehand as the arrival of her body as a precautionary measure to avoid the incident take a communal turn.
Ankita’s grandfather Anil Singh lit Ankita’s funeral pyre and broke down heavily while performing the toughest ritual for his granddaughter who he said was most careful about him.
“Instead of biding adieu to her (Ankita) for her in-law’s home destiny had kept such misfortune reserved for me,” the grandfather rued as tears continued rolling down his eyes.
Meanwhile, the Bandh has been observed for the second consecutive day here with business installations having downed the shutters spontaneously with protesters witnessed defying the prohibitory orders imposed by the administration on Sunday itself demanding capital punishment by ensuring a speedy trial of the accused Shahrukh who, however, was arrested immediately after the crime.
Police have also detained another suspect believed to have been involved in the crime who is currently being interrogated to ascertain his role.
“Another suspect in Ankita’s murder is currently being interrogated to ascertain his role if there be any,” DSP Vijay Kumar said.
On Sunday, Ankita’s death sparked large-scale outrage among local residents who thronged the streets to vent their ire. Shops and markets were closed and angry people took to the streets and started raising slogans against the district administration.
Ankita, a resident of Jaruadih under town police station was undergoing treatment at RIMS in Ranchi where he was rushed from the Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) here the same day for having suffered nearly ninety per cent burn injuries.
Thousands of protesters including those affiliated with the Hindu right-wing organisation Bajrang Dal and BJP Mahila Morcha enforced Dumka bandh to vent their ire against the brutality against a Hindu minor girl for refusing to adhere to the motive of the accused to have an affair with.
The accused Shahrukh Hussain (22) of the victim’s neighbourhood had on Tuesday last allegedly set her on fire by pouring petrol on her from the window of the room she was sleeping in, to vent his ire.
Ankita had stated to the police in the presence of a magistrate that she was often intercepted by Shahrukh midway through her school and elsewhere with the motive to have an affair with her.
“I saw Shahrukh of my neighbourhood escaping after setting me on fire before pouring petrol on me from the window of my room I was sleeping in” Ankita had stated who battled for her life for five days while being admitted at RIIMS in the state capital.
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The accused was arrested immediately and is currently in judicial custody yet the news of Ankita’s death prompted residents and right-wing organisations to throng the streets against the prevailing state of lawlessness.
“Women continue to be the soft target of miscreants in the current regime of governance with none of the ruling party leaders, ministers and MLAs having preferred to visit Ankita while being treated at RIIMS,” Lois Marandi, the former BJP MLA from Dumka said demanding speedy trial of the case and suitable compensation to the victim’s family.
Thousands of Mahila Morcha members of the BJP and Bajrang Dal also blocked the tower chowk for hours on Sunday as social media platforms remain flooded with demands of subjecting the accused by awarding the death penalty through the speedy trial of the case.
In a bid to thwart the emergence of law and order problem, security was deployed heavily in Jaruadih with prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration under section 144 by the SDO (Civil) Maheshwar Mahto in the entire subdivision limit till further order.
“The body of the deceased girl is to arrive by evening and residents are appealed to maintain calm as the accused has already been arrested and has confessed to having committed the crime,” Dy SP Noor Mustafa Ansari said.
