Jodhpur: A 20-year-old woman was allegedly burnt alive in her village near Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on Saturday for protesting the cutting of trees, in an incident that has generated anger and shock. A revenue official is among 10 people named in an FIR or police complaint.
The police say the young woman, Lalita, had objected to the cutting of trees in her farm for the widening of a road in the village, around 100 km from Jodhpur. A group of villagers allegedly attacked her, poured petrol on her and set her on fire. She died in hospital on Sunday.
“The dispute was over a road, my sister was opposing it…they poured petrol on her and set her on fire,” said the woman’s brother, Vidyadhar.
The police say they are investigating allegations that the sarpanch or head of her village, Ranveer Singh, and revenue official Om Prakash were among those who set her on fire, NDTV reported.
Police officer Suresh Chaudhary told the news agency ANI: “The sarpanch and other people poured petrol on her and burnt her alive. The body is in the mortuary. We will arrest the accused soon, after a fair investigation.”
Some villagers claim that the woman came with a can of kerosene and set herself ablaze.