Wardha lecturer set afire by stalker dies

Mumbai: The 25-year-old woman lecturer, who was allegedly set ablaze by a stalker at Hinganghat in Wardha district last week, died Monday morning.

Expressing grief, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the case would be tried in a fast-track court.

Vikesh Nagrale (27) had allegedly set afire Ankita Pisudde on February 3. She suffered 35 to 40 per cent burns and was undergoing treatment at the Orange City Hospital and Research Centre.

Pisudde sustained deep burn injuries on the scalp, face, right upper limb, left hand, upper back, neck and eyes along with severe inhalation injuries. She died of ‘septicemic shock’ after suffering from deep dermal burns along with severe inhalation injuries, respiratory distress and related complications, the hospital said in a medical bulletin.

“Doctors at the hospital declared her dead at 6.55 am today,” Hinganghat police inspector Satyaveer Bandiwar said.

Pisudde was cremated in the presence of thousands in Daroda village Monday evening. While heavy security was deployed in Hinganghat, some angry locals threw stones to block the road when the ambulance carrying the body was on its way to Daroda. The local police, however, managed to control the situation and the Rapid Action Force was also deployed in the area, an official said.

Earlier in the day, residents of Daroda village blocked the highway demanding capital punishment for the arrested accused. Home minister Anil Deshmukh said the case would be fast-tracked and the deceased’s brother would be given a government job.

“Efforts were made to save the victim, but we are sorry she could not survive. The state government stands with the victim’s family. A government job and all other assistance will be provided to the victim’s family,” he tweeted.

The chief minister, meanwhile, said the investigative agencies would work to ensure that the convict gets the strictest of punishment.

NCP MP Supriya Sule in a tweet said she was saddened to hear about the woman’s death. “This case will be heard in the fast-track court and the state government will ensure that justice is done,” she said.

State women and child development minister Yashomati Thakur called for a struggle against such ‘violent mentality of men.’ “I am feeling numb, mute today...the victim’s struggle for life is over, let’s start a struggle against this violent-manly mentality,” she said at Chikhaldara in Amravati.