Girl set ablaze by stalker succumbs to burns in Delhi

New Delhi: An 18-year-old girl, who was undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital here after allegedly being set on fire by her stalker for rejecting his romantic advances, succumbed to injuries on Sunday, officials said.

"The girl had suffered around 77 per cent burns and was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition. Most of the injuries were on her face and lungs. She died at around 10 am," doctors said. 

According to sources, the deceased's mother suffered a heart attack after her daughter died and was admitted in the same hospital. 

The 31-year-accused in the case is a taxi driver. He attacked the girl, when she was returning from college on December 16 in Rishikesh, officials said. 

The girl was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh on Monday with 70 to 80 per cent burns. She was flown to Delhi in an air ambulance on Wednesday and admitted to the burn ward at Safdarjung Hospital, officials said. 

The man had been stalking her after she had rebuffed his advances, police said. "The accused poured petrol on the girl and set her ablaze.
 
After hearing her cries for help, locals rushed to the spot and took her to the hospital," police said. 

Angry students of the girl’s university have demanded capital punishment for the accused who was arrested on the same day the crime was committed.