Girl, 16, dies after being lured on to rooftop, raped and set on fire

A teenage girl who was raped and set on fire on the roof terrace of her home died in hospital on Wednesday. The 16-year-old, who suffered burns to more than 90% of her body in the attack two days ago, died in a New Delhi hospital. “Unfortunately, she could not be saved despite the best efforts of the medical staff,” said investigating officer Ashwani Kumar. “The body has been sent for postmortem. We are waiting for the report.” A 19-year-old man, suspected of carrying out in the attack, remains in custody but is now likely to face a murder charge.

It is intolerable that in this day and age, women are still being exposed to barbaric brutality and violence because they are women.

Indian president Pranab Mukherjee

The attack is the latest in a string of high-profile rapes in India, where the authorities are routinely accused of failing to investigate properly. In Monday’s incident, the girl was lured to the roof of her home where she was set upon. Her family, from Tigri in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. said the suspect had been stalking her for a year. They wept as the girl’s body was carried through the village during her funeral. The suspect’s family denies the rape allegation and say they were in a consensual relationship.

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