Maha woman set ablaze critical, citizens hit the roads

Over 36 hours after a 24-year woman college lecturer was burnt in full public view by a married spurned suitor, doctors described her condition as "extremely critical" even as thousands of citizens took to the streets and the Hinganghat town observed a spontaneous shutdown here on Tuesday.

As the matter reverberated in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the victim's weeping family demanded that the accused - Vikesh alias Vicki Nagrale, 27 - should be handed over to the people for meting out similar justice by burning him publicly.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced that the state government would bear all medical expenses for the complete treatment of the victim - Ankita Pisudde, a post-graduate in Botany, working as a part-time lecturer with Matoshree Ashatai Kunawar Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Hinganghat.

The shocking incident happened around 7.15 am on Monday outside her college and by the time she was rushed from a Primary Health Centre to the specialised Orange City Hospital & Research Institute, Nagpur, her oxygen levels had plummeted to dangerously low levels.

"The woman has suffered deep burns on her face, scalp, neck, right shoulder, left hand, upper back, eyes and respiratory system. Yesterday, she underwent a tracheostomy, debridement, escharectomy and burns dressing.

"She has suffered 35-40 percent Grade III deep dermal burns with respiratory distress and inhalational injuries with related complications," OCHRI Director (Dr) Anup Marar told on Tuesday.

He described her condition as "very critical" though she is holding onto her vital parameters with intensive care and oxygen support of five litres per minute.

Wardha Guardian Minister Sunil Kedar, Hinghanghat MLA Samir Kunnawar and others visited the hospital to enquire after her condition.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said that the case will be transferred to a fast track court to ensure speedy justice, while Energy Minister and Nagpur Guardian Minister Nitin Raut has assured all help to the victim's family.

Several thousands of people comprising men, women, schoolkids, college students, youth, political activists, business community and others trooped out on the streets of Hinghanghat to protest against the incident.

Many women and girls were seen crying as they staged the silent protests and several people demanded instant capital punishment to the accused for the gruesome crime.

Meanwhile, the accused was produced by police before a local court which remanded him to police custody for five days. He hails from a nearby village Daroda, where the victim also lives and he was acquainted with her.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has ordered the Wardha Police Superintendent Basavaraj Teli to submit a detailed report on the incident while the Bharatiya Janata Party state Vice President Chitra Wagh urged the government to shift the victim to a multi-speciality burn hospital.

Political leaders across all parties, social workers, NGOs, youth and students have expressed outrage at the incident and demanded that the culprit must be tried and punished without any delays as in other prominent cases.

( With inputs from IANS )