Maha woman set ablaze is critical, Hinganghat shut

Over 36 hours after a woman college lecturer was burnt alive by her spurned suitor, the victim's condition became "extremely critical" on Tuesday when thousands of people filled the streets here as the town observed a spontaneous shutdown.

The matter reverberated in Lok Sabha on the day as well, as the 24-year-old victim's family demanded the accused be handed over to the people.

The bereaved family said the 27-year-old Vicki Nagrale, the married man who was stalking the victim and finally attacked her after being spurned, should be meted out a similar fate. They said justice should be "by burning him publicly".

The college lecturer was set ablaze around 7.15 a.m. on Monday outside her college and by the time she was rushed from a Primary Health Centre to the specialized 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 .

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.

State 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 Nagrale was produced by police before a local court which remanded him to police custody for five days.

( With inputs from IANS )