Patna, the heart of Bihar, is reeling from a barbaric crime that defies humanity. A teenage girl, trapped in the web of a deranged suitor’s obsession, was torched alive on a busy street in Gopalpur’s Sampatchak Bairiya area. Aditya Kumar, consumed by one-sided love, executed the heinous attack on January 17, leading to the girl’s tragic death five days later at NMCH.

Reports indicate Aditya had been harassing the minor for months, trailing her relentlessly despite her rejections. On that fateful day, as she walked home, he confronted her, poured petrol over her clothes, and struck a match. The blaze engulfed her instantly. In a bid for survival, the girl dashed nearly 100 feet, her cries of ‘Bachao! Bachao!’ piercing the air and drawing horrified onlookers who doused the fire with whatever they could find.

Medics at NMCH fought tirelessly against overwhelming odds—her body was charred beyond recognition. The mother’s FIR named Aditya outright, triggering FSL evidence collection and the recording of the girl’s pre-death statement. Facing inevitable capture, the accused walked into Patna Civil Court to surrender on January 23.

With the postmortem underway, police vow a fast-tracked trial. This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter measures against stalking and violence fueled by rejected advances, leaving an entire city mourning a life lost too soon.