Two sleeping girls set on fire in sickening attack

Two minor girls sleeping on their rooftop were set ablaze after an unidentified suspect sprinkled petrol on them while they were asleep in Ghaziabad.

Police said the victims, Mafia, 7 and her neighbour Tayyaba Tufail, 14, along with Tayyaba's grandmother, were sleeping on the rooftop. Suddenly, the victims started screaming and crying after catching fire under suspicious circumstances.

The other family members were sleeping on the ground floor and rushed to their aid upon hearing the screams.

The family immediately called the Rescue teams and the police. The teams swiftly transferred the victims to the hospital for treatment, while the police collected forensic evidence from the crime scene.

Circumstantial evidence suggests that an unidentified suspect entered the rooftop, sprinkled petrol, and set it on fire. Both girls sustained severe burn injuries.

The victims are currently undergoing treatment at the Burn Unit of Lahore Mayo Hospital. A team from the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CP&WB) visited the hospital to inquire about their health and assured them of their support. The police stated that they are actively investigating the matter and searching for the suspects involved.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2023.