Odisha gang-rape victim dead

A teenaged girl, who had tried to immolate herself after being gang-raped in Odisha on January 2, died at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, police said.

Four people had dragged the 16-year-old orphan to a forest near Anjiapeta village in Rayagada district, around 390 km from Bhubaneshwar. She was returning home from work.

They fled after gang-raping her. She was spotted by some women and brought to the village.

Unable to bear the trauma, the girl tried to immolate herself a day later and suffered over 80% burn injuries.

She was admitted to a hospital in Rayagada town but was shifted to a private hospital in Vishakhapatnam town January 7 after her condition deteriorated.

The girl died on Tuesday at a hospital in Visakhapatanam, inspector in-charge of Rayagada police station Prashant Bhupati told IANS.

Police would soon file a chargesheet against the four accused, who were arrested soon after the incident.

The girl was staying with her grandmother and worked at a photocopying shop in Rayagada.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled her death and said strong action would be taken against the culprits.

Patnaik also announced a compensation of Rs10 lakh for the kin of the victim.