By Sarfaraz Memon
SUKKUR: A teenage girl was set on fire by a young man in Kaltarpur Muhalla in Kandiyaro, Naushahro Feroze district, on Monday morning. The girl, who has received 60 per cent burn injuries, has been referred to a hospital in Karachi for medical aid.
Reports said that Sajid Qureshi, a cloth merchant and also a resident of Kaltarpur Muhalla, wanted to marry 18 year old Aqsa, daughter of the late Ikram Qureshi. The girl’s mother refused his proposal, as the man is said to be an alcoholic. Reports said that the man kept on pursuing her, but the girl’s mother and brother repeatedly refused his overtures.
On Monday morning, the accused Sajid Qureshi, who was reportedly drunk, broke into the house of Ikram Qureshi and tried to assault Aqsa. The girl resisted and started screaming for help. The accused then threw kerosene oil on her, set her on fire and fled, reports added.
Reports suggested that the girl’s mother and brother were not at home and rushed after hearing her screams and put out the fire, but by then she had received burn injuries on her face, hands and chest. The girl was rushed to the taluka hospital, where the doctors said that 60 to 65 per cent of her body was burnt, and referred her to a Karachi hospital.
Kandiyaro police, on the complaint of the girl’s brother Nabeel Qureshi, has lodged an FIR against Sajid Qureshi and arrested him. The SHO Kandiyaro Asad Nabi Khichi, talking to The Express Tribune, claimed that the man in question lives adjacent to girl’s house. According to him, this matter was going on for months and Sajid Qureshi’s proposal was refused more than once by the girl’s mother and brother.
Irked by the man’s pestering, the family had sought the help of some influential person and three months ago, the matter was resolved and Sajid had promised not to bother them again, the officer said.
The officer confirmed that on Monday, the accused allegedly broke into their house and threw kerosene oil on the girl and put her on fire.
