Minor Dalit girl set afire in Azamgarh

Varanasi: Enraged over a girl’s refusal to share her mobile number despite his repeated requests, a man allegedly set his minor Dalit neighbour on fire at her house in Fariha village in Azamgarh district, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday when Mohammad Shai, also resident of the same village, went to the victim’s house and allegedly pressured her to reveal her mobile number. According to the police, when the girl refused to disclose her number, Shai allegedly thrashed her and set her on fire after sprinkling kerosene on her. The neighbours, who gathered after hearing the girl’s cry, extinguished the fire, and nabbed the accused. Her condition is stated to be critical. pti