Dumka: Seventeen-years old Ankita Kumari Singh who died battling for life at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences after she was set on fire by a jilted lover on August 23 and was cremated in Dumka on Monday under high security. Thousands of residents joined the funeral procession of Ankita 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 RIMS.
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 rightwing 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 her home for the burning ghaat at Bediya along the Mayurakshi river being three kilometers 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 her funeral pyre and broke down heavily while performing the toughest ritual for his granddaughter who he said was most careful about him. The old man said that instead of biding adieu to her for her in-law’s home destiny had kept such misfortune reserved for him the grandfather rued as tears continued rolling down his eyes.
Meanwhile, a Bandh was 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 demanded 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 she was rushed from the Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) the same day for having suffered nearly ninety per cent burn injuries. The accused Shahrukh Hussain (22) of the victim’s neighborhood had on Tuesday last had 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. She said that
she had seen Shahrukh of her neighbourhood escaping after setting her on fire before pouring petrol on her from the window of her room as she was sleeping. ” 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. Meanwhile the incident has kicked up political storm in the state with the opposition BJP leading the drive and accusing the state government of failing to protect the girls and daughters of the state.