Amid the widespread anger and protest over the gruesome murder of Ankita Kumari in Dumka, the Jharkhand Police on Monday arrested the second accused Naeem alias Chhotu Khan. A local court sent Naeem to jail.
Addressing the media, Dumka SP Amber Lakra confirmed the arrest and said, “Naeem alias Chhotu Khan, the second accused in the Ankita murder case, has been arrested. After presenting the accused in Dumka court, he was sent to jail.”
The police had on 23 August arrested the main accused Shahrukh, who allegedly set on fire a 12 standard student Ankita for spurning his one-sided love.
Ankita succumbed to her injuries on Sunday and was cremated on Monday morning, even as local authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 amid protests by locals.
“We will apply for a fast track trial. People are cooperating with us. We appeal to people to maintain peace. The situation is under control and Sec 144 has been imposed,” Lakra added.
Shahrukh allegedly barged into Ankita’s house on the night of 23 August and poured petrol on her through a window while she was asleep and set her on fire. Ankita was set on fire
in a case of unrequited love.Shahrukh was arrested by the police the same day.
Ankita was referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science for better treatment. However, she could not survive and died on Sunday. Soon after the incident came to light, people were seen protesting in the streets of Dumka.
Condemning her killing, Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured the “earliest” punishment to the accused and also called for laws to “further strengthen the existing laws for such incidents”. He said, “Such people should not be forgiven, but should be given the strictest of punishments. Laws should be brought in to further strengthen the existing laws for such incidents.”
Union minister Arjun Munda questioned the state administration for the death of the girl. He said, “Who is responsible for such incidents? Were appropriate measures taken to save the victim or not? How will the guilty be punished? The state government should answer on all these questions and to restore the confidence of the public in Jharkhand.”
Lashing out at the government over this incident, former Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, “It is very shameful for Jharkkhand the way that boy entered the girl’s house, poured petrol and set her ablaze. There have been thousands of crimes against women in Jharkhand after Hemant Soren became chief minister.” Das even went on to allege that there were love jihad cases also among the tribal population and people from Bangladesh were marrying innocent tribal girls to usurp their lands.
