A 12-year-old Dalit boy was set on fire by four people in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district over reported family rivalry, police said Monday. The child is said to be in a critical condition.
The incident took place Sunday evening in Madiyakala village in Vidisha when four people beat up the boy, Maharaj Singh, sprinkled kerosene on him and then set him on fire.
He was admitted to the district hospital where his condition is said to be critical.
The accused have been identified as Raju Khangar, Prakash Khangar, Pradeep Maina and Ramkaran Maina and they reportedly had a long-standing dispute with the victim's father Bharat Singh Ahirwar, Superintendent of Police (Vidisha) I.S. Sansanwal told IANS.
The police have registered a case against the accused who are absconding.
"We have sent teams to different locations to arrest them," the police official said.
