The victim’s father, Balraj said that while Sharmila was dying, hospital authorities demanded that he either produce a BPL card or pay Rs 7 per km for an ambulance to transfer her from Narwana civil hospital to Rohtak’s PGIMS. Worse, after she died and her body was handed over to her father, Sharmila’s body was reportedly straightaway taken to the cremation ground and it was alleged that even as Balraj was talking to some people, one unidentified man poured petrol on the pyre and another person lit it.

Balraj said, “While I was crying for help, the Narwana civil hospital authorities did not bother to make any arrangements. When villagers threatened them with dire consequences, they told us that an MLC (medico-legal case) has been registered and they will make arrangements to shift her to Rohtak’s PGIMS. A few minutes after reaching Rohtak PGIMS, she was declared dead.”

Narwana DSP Rameshwar Kumar, however, countered the allegation. “I was there with the senior medical officer of the hospital, and we made adequate arrangements to send the girl to Rohtak’s hospital.”

It was alleged that the girl’s body was not allowed to be taken to her home, In fact, Balraj was unaware when his daughter’s pyre was lit by a villager.

Haryana Police personnel were deployed in the village on Saturday night to maintain law and order, and they reportedly persuaded villagers to expedite the cremation.

The body was brought back to the village from Rohtak’s PGIMS in a taxi hired by the victim’s family.

While villagers were waiting for the body to arrive at the victim’s home, the police allegedly influenced the family to take the body straight to the cremation ground located on the outskirts of the village.

Police officers, including assistant-sub inspector and inspector, were deployed around the cremation ground. While the victim’s father was reportedly agitated over the police’s role; one of the villagers brought a can of petrol and poured it on the pyre, while another lit it. Soon after, the police personnel left the scene after assuring villagers that action will be taken against the accused.

“One can see how the police suppress people like us. One of our villagers may have lit the pyre. I don’t know who he was, I couldn’t see him. All villagers are a family. If anybody else has lit the pyre, it is fine, but at least I should have been allowed to take my daughter’s body to my home. My parents wanted to see her before she was cremated,” said Balraj.

However, Jind SP Sourabh Singh said, “The victim has been cremated by her parents. The situation is peaceful. We have arrested all the accused named in the FIR. Another accused will be arrested if we can substantiate his involvement.”

‘Saw flames, but could do little to save her’

There’s an uneasy calm in the small cluster of 40 houses belonging to Balmiki community at Sacchakhera village of Narwana in Jind district. The residents are in a state of shock. A 16-year-old girl, Sharmila, belonging to the community, immolated herself after she was allegedly gangraped by neighbours on Saturday.

Sharmila lived with her family in a two-room kucha house on the outskirts of the village. Her family consists of parents, Balraj (45) and Rajkali, grandparents, and seven siblings. Balraj, Rajkali, their elder son Mintu (20) and daughter Mamta (18) are the four earning members of the family, who work as labourers and manage to earn Rs 100-150 per person daily. Sharmila used to take care of her grandparents Ramchander and Dhanpati, and her four siblings, who study at a local school.

Said Dhanpati, who is bed-ridden due to a fractured leg, “Sharmila told me that she was going to buy groceries. She did not return for long. All of a sudden, I heard her screams. I could see flames across the wall, but could not get up. I shouted for help, but failed to do anything. She had gone nextdoor to my other son’s house, poured kerosene and set herself afire. My other son’s family members also work as labourers and were not at home.”