The police has detained a suspect in the death of 22-year-old woman Shama Sheikh. According to the sources, the police is questioning him now though it has not received the postmortem report yet. The suspect was detained after locals had described him as a boy who was often seen in the area.
A police official from Malwani police station, confirming the development, said “Now we are inquiring about the motive behind setting the girl on fire.”
According to a source, the police has registered a case under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (Murder), 376 (rape), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint).
The police applied sections for rape in this murder because it had recovered a condom from the dustbin of the house of the deceased. Officials suspect that rape had occurred before the immolation took place.
Local residents had informed the police that a few women were sitting near the home of the deceased and they didn't notice anyone entering her house while the backdoor was closed from inside. Hence, the police suspect that someone had gone to the deceased’s house and had relations with her after which she set herself on fire.
On Thursday evening at about 6.30 pm, Sheikh emerged from her house, shouting for help. When her neighbours came out, they found her on fire. They immediately doused the flames and took her to the local Shatabdi Hospital where she died while receiving treatment.
