Taking cognizance of the Ankita murder case on Tuesday, the Jharkhand High Court has summoned DGP and the Home Secretary.

Ankita Singh, a student of class 12, was assaulted and set ablaze by Shahrukh Hussain, a jilted lover, on August 23 after pouring petrol on her. The accused Shahrukh, who was apparently involved in a one-sided affair, was arrested on the same day.

A bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan has sought a status report on the case.

It’s said the accused had allegedly poured petrol on her through the window of her home When Ankita was asleep before igniting the blaze. After the incident, she was rushed to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in a critical condition.

She was later referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for better treatment. However, she succumbed to her in the hospital. Ankita Singh was cremated on Monday morning.

On Monday, a second accused was also arrested. Dumka SP Amber Lakra said, “Naeem alias Chhotu Khan, the second accused in the Ankita murder case, has been arrested. After presenting the accused in Dumka court, he was sent to jail.”

As the matter is sensitive in nature since it involved two persons, the accused and the victim, belonging to different communities, namely Hindu and Muslim, Section 144 was imposed in Dumka to preempt any eventuality, especially at a time when inter-community relations in this part of the country are unenviable. Under Section 144, four or more people can’t gather in the area in question.

Predictably, the murder case has become the centre of politics spelling fresh trouble for the beleaguered ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition government with Opposition BJP leaders terming the incident a case of ‘love jihad’.

Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “After the cruelty meted out to Ankita, her death has made every Indian bow their heads in shame. Today, there is a dire need to create a safe environment for women in the country. Ankita and her family will get justice only when the perpetrators of this cruelty will be punished as soon as possible.”

Delhi Chief Minister also condemned the incident in a tweet, saying, “The killers of student Ankita Singh in Jharkhand should be punished severely. The country will never tolerate such a heinous crime. There should be a fair investigation in this matter so that the deceased and their families get justice at the earliest.”

Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das, lashing out at the government said for laxity in maintaining law and order in the state, said, “It is very shameful for Jharkhand the way that boy entered the girl’s house, poured petrol and set her ablaze. There have been thousands of crimes against women in Jharkhand after Hemant Soren became the Chief Minister. There are love jihad cases also among the tribal population. The people from Bangladesh are entering and marrying innocent tribal girls and usurping their land.”

He further said that humanity and Jharkhand both are ashamed by the incident. “Talked to the family members of Ankita, the victim of love jihad today. Their sorrow cannot be shared. The Chief Minister and the local MLA did not even take care of the injured Ankita. The public will teach a lesson to this dumb-deaf government indulging,” he added.

g in appeasement.”