Madhya Pradesh: Dalit girl set on fire for filing harassment complaint
New Delhi: A Dalit girl was set on fire by the son of a man who attempted to assault her.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident has sparked outrage and highlights the precarious position of Dalit women in the country, who face intersecting layers of marginalisation due to both caste and gender.
The incident took place in Madhya Pradesh’s village near Khandwa, days after the Dalit girl filed a police complaint against her harasser.
In her complaint, she said that 48-year-old Mangilal tried to force himself on her when she was alone in a field on October 7. Subsequently, Mangilal was arrested on the same day but was granted bail the following day.
After his release, the girl’s relatives reported that they received threats from Mangilal’s family members.
According to the police report, Mangilal’s son, Arjun, barged into the victim’s house, poured petrol on her and burnt her.
Despite her injuries, the Dalit girl managed to escape the scene. She was rushed to a local hospital from where she was shifted to a facility in Indore. She suffered 27 percent burn injuries and is in critical condition, according to media reports.
