The 15-year-old girl from Greater Noida who was raped and burnt alive by her alleged stalker succumbed to her injuries early morning on Wednesday. The minor who had suffered 95 per cent burns breathed her last at the Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi where she was being treated.
According to the neighbours who were present at the hospital with the parents, the doctors had given up after the girl stopped speaking around 8:30 pm on Tuesday night. The victim breathed her last at 2:30 am.
Following the girl's death, the family brought her home to Tigri Village - about 34 kms from Delhi, where the last rites were held. The modest one-story house saw a constant stream of visitors as a section of police stood guard outside. "The police force will be stationed here for at least a week as a precautionary measure," said Rakesh Kumar, CO, Greater Noida 3rd.
Several of the neighbours even made their way up on the roof - the scene of crime and tried to reconstruct the events of the night in question. Blood spatters could be seen right next to the staircase and almost all over the terrace. The spot where the girl was found burning, in the far corner of the terrace, still had traces of her clothes and her burnt flesh.
"I heard screaming in the middle of the night and I quickly ran out to help," said Dashrath, a neighbour. Dashrath is the victim's neighbour who lives in the house adjoining her's and has been a witness to the unfolding drama since Sunday night.
The minor was buried as per her religious tradition at a graveyard less than a kilometer away from her house. According to the residents of the locality, almost 500 people were present during the burial.
Though, emotions ran high, a calm permeated through the sleepy village. The only noticeable activity took place outside the victims house as people came calling to offer their condolences. The victim's mother was inconsolable even as her son and the neighbours tried to calm her down. Eventually a doctor was called to monitor the situation as her health took a turn for the worse.
The accused Ajay Sharma who was arrested by police officials within half hour of being notified is currently in judicial custody at Luksar Jail. According to the statement given to the police by Sharma, he was merely trying to save the girl from burning. It was well known in the locality that Sharma and his gang of boys - all anti-social elements, were harassing and stalking the minor since the past one year. "We had once got a complaint from the girl's parents 10 months ago," recalls Kumar, "We even detained him at the time and let him off with dire warnings," he added. However, Kumar claims, since no complaints were forthcoming after that, they were helpless and unable to take any action. "How can we do anything, if nobody comes forward and lodges a complaint," Kumar said.
Since the incident took place, Sharma's family has been keeping a low profile and continuing their defence of their son. Sharma now faces charges for rape and murder.
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