Initial probe finds chinks in parents’ statement to cops

Initial findings of police investigation contradict the statement given by family members of the teenage girl, who was allegedly raped and set on fire by her boyfriend early on Monday at Tigri village under Bisrakh police station in Greater Noida.

A senior police official said on Tuesday that initial investigations have revealed that it would be impossible for the accused, 18-year-old Ajay Kumar, to climb up to the 16-year-old victim’s terrace with a gallon of kerosene. In the incident, at least five litres of kerosene was used and the victim’s family identified the container as one from their house.

“We are going through mobile records to establish the sequence of the incident. There are no witnesses to the incident as it was late night. We will questions friends of the accused to get more information in the case,” said a senior police official.

Ashwini Kumar, inspector of the Bisrakh police station, said the accused in his confession to the police said his girlfriend tried self-immolation and when he attempted to douse the fire his hands got burn injuries. He claimed that he got burnt while trying to save the girl, who was wearing a nylon suit that caught fire immediately.

“Ajay was arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Monday and was sent to 14 days in judicial custody,” Mr Kumar added.

The police said it had approached the victim to record her statement, but the doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital had denied them permission, as the teenager was in an unconscious state in the ICU. “The investigating officer along with magistrate will again approach the victim on Wednesday to record her statement. We are also waiting for a laboratory report to confirm sexual assault on the victim,” said a senior police official.

On Monday, the victim’s family members had alleged that the accused had raped their daughter and set her ablaze before fleeing the spot. The police said the Safdarjung Hospital doctors had told them the victim had received 95 per cent burn injuries.