Teacher ‘Critical’ After Being Set Ablaze, Locals Protest in Maha

The accused Vikesh Nagrale was the victim’s friend till two years back before she severed ties with him.

Image used for representation.

(Photo: iStock)

The condition of a woman college teacher who was set ablaze by a stalker in Maharashtra's Wardha district was “very critical,” hospital authorities said on Tuesday, 4 February.

Residents of Hinganghat and Samudrapur areas in Wardha took out a protest march on Tuesday, demanding death penalty for the accused — Vikesh Nagrale (27).

The accused set 25-year-old Ankita Pisudde ablaze on Monday morning while she was on her way to the college, sparking an outrage with the state home minister announcing that the case will be tried in a fast track court.

The woman suffered 40 percent burns and inhalation injuries, a Wardha police official said, adding that the woman was admitted in a hospital in Nagpur, about 75 kms from Wardha, in a critical condition.

The accused Vikesh Nagrale (27), who was the victim's friend till two years back before she severed ties with him, has been arrested, the official said.

Vardha superintendent of police Basavaraj Teli said it seems to be the case of unrequited love by the accused.

‘The Woman Suffered 40% Burn Injuries’

The incident occurred around 7:15 am after the woman alighted from a state transport bus in Hinganghat town and was heading towards her college. She is a resident of Daroda village.

"At that time, Nagrale accosted her. He then took out petrol from his two-wheeler and set her ablaze before running away from the spot," said Hinganghat police station inspector Satyaveer Bandiwar.

He said some passers-by poured water on the woman and rushed her to a nearby primary health centre from where she was shifted to Orange City Hospital in Nagpur. "She has suffered 40 percent burns," the official added.

Meanwhile, some eye-witnesses claimed Nagrale was accompanied by his friend.

At a health bulletin issued at 5 pm, the hospital said the woman suffered 35-40 percent grade III deep dermal burns with respiratory distress, and her condition is critical.

"Alleged history of throwing/splash of inflammable material followed by thermal burn by some person. Deep Burn injuries over Scalp, face, right upper limb, left hand, upper back, full neck with bilateral eye injury with inhalational injury. In view of inhalational injury & respiratory distress; emergency tracheotomy was also done along with burn dressing, escharectomy and debridement," it said.

The woman is admitted in the CCU of the hospital.

"She suffered 35-40 percent Grade III deep dermal burns with respiratory distress and inhalational injury with Ocular involvement and related complications," it stated.

Nagrale, who fled the scene of crime, was nabbed from Takalghat village and charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, the SP said.

‘Accused Harassed Her for Many Years’

Bandiwar said the accused was a friend of the victim till two years ago, but she broke ties with him due to his "irrational behaviour".

“Nagrale, also from Daroda village, is a married man and has a seven-month-old son. He works at a firm in Balharshah. He used to stalk the woman. He had even tried to commit suicide last year, though no complaint was lodged at that time,” the official said.

The woman's cousin Shubham Pisudde told PTI that Nagrale had been harassing her for the last many years despite repeated warnings.

"Her marriage was broken last year due to Nagrale," he said.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters in Mumbai that the case will be tried in a fast track court.

He said the woman was injured in the "acid attack".

"The Hinganghat incident wherein a woman was attacked with acid is a serious matter. The accused Nagrale has been arrested. He will get the strictest punishment," he said.

The case will be tried in a fast track court to ensure speedy conviction of the accused, he added.

Try Case in Fast-Track Court: Fadnavis

BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 7 February, visited the hospital, where the woman lecturer has been admitted, and enquired about her condition.

The Leader of Opposition in the assembly spoke to doctors treating the victim and enquired about her condition. In a medical bulletin issued earlier in the day, the hospital said her condition remains critical.

Fadnavis demanded that the case be tried in a fast- track court to ensure speedy justice to the victim.

"The relatives of the victim want speedy justice and strict punishment to the accused. Our demand is that the state government designate a fast-track court to try the case,” he said.

“There is a need to create fear of law among people looking at the increasing number of such incidents in Maharashtra. We will give all support to the government on this issue.”

Devendra Fadnavis, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister