Indian police try to hijack hearse of rape-victim and forcibly cremate body

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk]

The body of a teenager who set herself on fire when her rapists threatened her family was 'hijacked' by police who attempted to forcibly cremate it, reports today suggest.

The girl, 16, was allegedly gang-raped in October in Madhyamgram, near Calcutta, by a group of six men - who are believed to have links with West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress.

They again attacked her the following day as she returned from reporting the crime to police with her father, it is claimed.

The group were arrested - but the teen and her family say they received a series of threats from the men.

The alleged threats included one saying the girl's taxi-driver father would be killed if she continued to pursue charges.

The family’s landlord, who is reportedly related to one of the gang, allegedly told them they must leave their one-bedroom property also.

On the morning of the suicide, two friends of the accused allegedly visited the girl's home and verbally abused the girl.

The teen victim set herself alight on December 23 and died from her injuries on New Year's Eve.

Doctors said the victim - who had 40 per cent burns - had suffered severe damage to her throat and face, making it difficult for her to breathe.