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Teenage Rag-Picker Doused In Petrol And Set On Fire Dies, 3 Arrested

Teenage Rag-Picker Doused In Petrol And Set On Fire Dies, 3 Arrested
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: A young Pakistani ragpicker carries his bag as he makes his way back home as the sun goes down ending the longest day of the year in Islamabad, 22 June 2004. Usually the 22 June, of each year marks a significant mile post in the planet's yearly journey around the sun, known as the summer solstice causing the longest day of the year. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: A young Pakistani ragpicker carries his bag as he makes his way back home as the sun goes down ending the longest day of the year in Islamabad, 22 June 2004. Usually the 22 June, of each year marks a significant mile post in the planet's yearly journey around the sun, known as the summer solstice causing the longest day of the year. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

PUNE -- A 17-year-old rag-picker, who was allegedly set on fire by three persons suspecting him to be a vehicle battery thief, succumbed to his burn injuries today in a hospital here.

Sawan Rathod, who lived on a city footpath, had been hospitalised on Wednesday after he sustained severe burns when the accused, suspecting his involvement in stealing vehicle batteries in Kasaba Peth area, poured petrol on him and set him afire, police said.

The boy, who had suffered 75 per cent burn injuries, died this morning, hospital sources said.

Police have arrested the three accused -- Ibrahim Shaikh, Imran Tamboli and Zuber Tamboli -- in connection with the incident and booked them under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC.

The trio allegedly took out petrol from a two-wheeler in a narrow lane and set Sawan on fire after beating him up, accusing him of stealing batteries of vehicles parked on the street.

They later dumped him at an isolated spot on a river bank.

The victim was noticed by other rag-pickers who reported the crime to police.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.