On August 23, 2022, a 17-year-old girl called Ankita Kumari Singh was set ablaze by her stalker, Shahrukh Hussain, and his friend Naeem Ansari alias Chotu Khan in Dumka, Jharkhand. On August 28, 2022, the girl died as a result of her burn injuries.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Ankita Kumari’s father, Sanjeev Singh, claims that her neighbour, Sharukh Hussain, pursued her for more than a year. Sharukh Hussain allegedly followed her on her way to school and forced her to have a love relationship with him. Later, when Ankita Kumari admonished Sharukh for bothering her the night before the incident, he threatened her with dire repercussions. Ankita quickly informed her father; however, because it was late at night, her father urged her to sleep and stated that they would discuss it in the morning. According to Ankita Kumari’s deathbed declaration, Sharukh Hussain and his companion Chotu Khan flung petrol at her from the room’s window and set her ablaze while she was sleeping in her room around 4 a.m. on August 23, 2022. When she awoke, her body was engulfed in flames as she went up to her family members who were attempting to extinguish the fire. Ankita Kumari revealed in her final statement, “I notified my father about Shahurukh’s threats the evening before.” The next day, around 4 a.m., he and a companion poured gasoline through the window of my room. I felt a tingling sensation on my back and smelled burning. When I opened my eyes, I saw Shahrukh and his partner, Chotu, fleeing.”
She got accepted into the Phulo Jhano Medical College in Dumka. She was afterwards referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, where she died on August 28, 2022. Ankita Kumari’s father discussed the incident with a media source, saying, “I told her that it’s already late and I will go to Shahrukh’s house and talk to his mother the first thing the next day.” That day, however, never came. I’ll always be disappointed that I couldn’t save her.”
Soon after the news of the victim’s murder broke, several reports said that she had 90% burns on her body. Pankaj Sharma, Ankita’s father’s close friend, was present at the Ranchi hospital when Ankita died. He discussed Ankita Kumari’s health at the hospital in an interview, saying, “She was talking to us.” She was fine on August 28th until about 12:30 a.m. She began to feel nervous at 1:15 a.m. I dashed to the ICU to summon the on-call doctor, who was sitting there. But he arrived 45 minutes late.”
Ankita Kumari was transported to a hospital in Dumka with 90% burns.
FINAL STATEMENT OF THE VICTIM
Ankita stated in her deathbed statement before the magistrate that she wanted the defendant to be executed. She went on to say that she wished the accused the same fate as she had.
The Accused’s Arrest and a Speedy Trial
The accused in the case, Sharukh Hussain, was detained by the Dumka police shortly after the horrifying incidence of Ankita Kumari’s murder. Sharukh’s buddy and the second accused in the crime, Naeem Ansari alias Chotu Khan, was arrested by Jharkhand police on August 30, 2022. Ambar Lakda, superintendent of police in Dumka, said in a media interview, “The culprit Shahrukh has been arrested.” We will request a speedy trial at a fast track court. People are working together.
We urge everyone to keep the peace. The situation has been stabilised, and Section 144 has been implemented.”
Ankita’s father, Sanjeev Singh, said in a television interview that Muslim stalker Sharukh Hussain used to harass her and pressurise her to convert to Islam. He stated, “For months, he insisted on pressuring my daughter to marry and convert. He was a stalker and a one-sided lover.”
Sanjeev Singh revealed that Sharukh obtained her phone number from someone and began phoning her. Ankita’s father also described an instance in which Sharukh broke into his house to torment Ankita; however, the children inside shouted for help, and Shahrukh was reprimanded by her neighbours. According to Ankita’s father, Sanjeev Singh, “They even thrashed him.
But his behaviour remained unchanged.”
When Ankita refused to accept a romantic connection with Shahrukh, claiming she needed to focus on her profession, he allegedly promised her a post in the police force. Despite being a brilliant student, she skipped school once Sharukh began pestering her. Ankita lived at Jaruadih Kasbah in Dumka, which has a Hindu and Muslim population, according to sources.
