Woman sets herself on fire outside UP police station after alleged rapist evades arrest
A 21-year-old woman set herself on fire outside a police station in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district on Sunday night after her alleged rapist, an Army jawan, secured a stay on arrest from the High Court. Police personnel doused the flames and rushed her to a hospital, where she is being treated for 50 per cent burns.
According to officials, the woman had filed a First Information Report accusing the jawan of rape on the false promise of marriage. Police later filed a chargesheet in the case. However, the accused obtained a stay on his arrest from the Allahabad High Court, preventing law enforcement from taking him into custody.
The woman had reportedly been demanding that police summon the jawan to the station to push for a marriage settlement. When her requests were not met, she took the drastic step of self-immolation.
In response to the incident, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the concerned police station has been suspended pending an inquiry into the handling of the case. Senior police officials have assured a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the woman's desperate act.
The survivor is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi. Her condition is stated to be stable. Authorities have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Army has been informed about the development involving its personnel.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence in accessing justice, particularly when legal loopholes allow accused individuals to delay proceedings. The Uttar Pradesh Police have stated that they are committed to ensuring fair investigation and will take necessary steps to prevent such tragedies.
