Woman Dies After Being Set Afire for Rejecting Marriage Proposal
A 27-year-old woman died after being set on fire for rejecting a marriage proposal in Jaratola village, Sundargarh; police upgraded the case to murder.
Anju Toppo, a 27‑year‑old woman from Jaratola village in Sundargarh district, died on Tuesday night after sustaining burn injuries when she was allegedly set on fire for rejecting a marriage proposal. The incident occurred on June 26 around 11:30 pm when accused Rajat Kiro poured petrol through a window of her room and ignited it, according to Bisra police. She was rescued by family and locals, taken to Rourkela Government Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital with over 40% burns. Police have upgraded the case from attempt to murder to murder following her death.
What happened on June 26?
According to police, Anju Toppo was sleeping at her house in Jaratola village under Santoshpur panchayat under Bisra police station limits when, around 11:30 pm, Rajat Kiro allegedly poured petrol through a window and set the room on fire. Hearing her cries, family members and neighbours rushed in, pulled her out and rushed her to Rourkela Government Hospital.
Doctors initially treated her for burn injuries before transferring her to a private hospital due to the severity of her wounds. She suffered over 40% burn injuries, which ultimately led to her death on Tuesday night.
How did police respond?
Based on the victim’s statement and an FIR filed by her family, Bisra police registered an attempted murder case on June 27 and began an investigation. Rajat Kiro, a 28‑year‑old resident of the Kinjrikela police station area in Sundargarh district, was arrested on June 28 and has remained in jail since.
After Toppo died on Tuesday night, police sent her body for post‑mortem, handed it over to the family and upgraded the case to murder. Inspector‑in‑charge Manoranjan Kumbhar said, “After the death of the woman in the hospital, we have turned the attempt to murder case against the accused into a murder case. The accused is in jail now. We will take further action accordingly.”
What was the relationship between the victim and accused?
According to police, Kiro had come in contact with Toppo on social media about eight months before the incident and had proposed marriage. Her rejection of the proposal is alleged to have motivated the attack.
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Who was the woman who died after being set on fire for rejecting a marriage proposal?
Anju Toppo, a 27‑year‑old from Jaratola village in Sundargarh district.
What action did Bisra police take after the woman's death?
They upgraded the case from attempt to murder to murder and confirmed the accused remains in jail.
When and where did the incident involving Anju Toppo occur?
On June 26 around 11:30 pm at her house in Jaratola village under Santoshpur panchayat, Bisra police station limits, Sundargarh district.
Who is the accused in the case and what is his current status?
Rajat Kiro, 28, a resident of the Kinjrikela police station area, has been in jail since his arrest on June 28.
How did the victim come into contact with the accused?
According to police, they met on social media about eight months before the incident and he proposed marriage.
What were the victim's injuries and where was she treated?
She suffered over 40% burn injuries, was first taken to Rourkela Government Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital.
What did the Bisra police inspector-in-charge say about the case upgrade?
“After the death of the woman in the hospital, we have turned the attempt to murder case against the accused into a murder case. The accused is in jail now. We will take further action accordingly.”
Ansuya Minz
Senior District Correspondent, Sundargarh
Ansuya Minz has covered Sundargarh district for six years, reporting on the steel belt's industry, tribal welfare policy, and the Rourkela sports ecosystem. She is based in Rourkela.
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