In a ghastly incident, 11-year-old Kavitha was set on fire on Thursday while she was on her way to school. Kavitha, a resident of Weavers’ Colony on Bannerghatta Road, and a student of Bannerghatta Government School, was on her way to school with her elder sister when she was attacked. In a semi-conscious state, Kavitha told her father Venkatesh, a driver, that her sister asked her to go ahead. “No sooner did I move ahead, three-four people came and splashed kerosene over me and set me on fire,” Kavitha said.
Venkatesh, who was cleaning his vehicle nearby, ran to rescue her. He said that he suspects the area’s miscreants to be behind the act. “About two years ago, I had lodged a police complaint against miscreants who used to collect hafta and harass people in the area. I suspect them to be behind this act”. Kavitha was rushed to Victoria Hospital at 10 am. Dr Ramesh, attending to Kavitha, said, “She has sustained 90% injuries all over her body. At this point of time, we cannot say anything”. DCP-South East Dr Harsha said the case will be taken up on priority basis.