A rally taken out by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Darjeeling on Sunday. The rally was part of a weeklong programme the Morcha kicked off to explain to the people the details of an interim set-up for the Darjeeling hills. Picture by Suman Tamang

Alipurduar, Nov. 14: A 14-year-old girl unable to bear the alleged torture meted out by her uncle and his family set herself afire yesterday.

Munmun Barman, who had come to stay with her father’s brother after she lost her parents, died this morning even as the nation observed Children’s Day.

Munmun’s maternal uncle alleged that she had committed suicide unable to bear the torture inflicted on her at the house where she stayed.

“Yesterday morning, Munmun went to the backyard of the house at Baburhat in Alipurduar Block 1 and poured kerosene on the body before setting herself on fire. The girl was taken to a hospital in Cooch Behar, where she succumbed to burns this morning,” said Bipin Roy, Munmun’s maternal uncle, who also stays in Baburhat.

Roy said he had come to know about the incident from Munmun’s neighbours.

The girl’s father Ravi Barman, a farmer, died when she was one-year-old. Four years ago, her mother also expired, after which she was brought to her uncle Iswar’s house.

“The girl faced a lot of problems in the new surroundings. She would go to school after doing all household chores. Iswar’s wife scolded Munmun quite often. Sometimes, the women would use filthy language to address the girl,” said Roy.

“We think Iswar’s wife had misbehaved with Munmun yesterday too. She might have felt unwanted,” said Roy, who filed a complaint against Iswar with Alipurduar police this afternoon.

Iswar is a retired schoolteacher and has a 22-year-old son.

A large number of people gathered at Baburhat when Munmun’s body was brought from the hospital.

“Munmun was tortured frequently by her aunt. Iswar’s wife would often say the girl had become a burden on the family. She used to get up at 5am every day to complete all chores in the house. Then she would sit down to study. Munmun was determined to continue her studies,” said a woman in the locality.

Munmun’s close friend Rita (name changed) recounted the girl’s plight.

“Munmun was always very upset. She used to say it was difficult for a girl without parents to lead a normal life. Relatives could not play the role of parents, she would say. We used to help her with her studies. She faced restrictions at home and was not allowed to go out of the house. Munmun wanted to be self-sufficient as soon as possible,” said the friend.

Iswar denied all charges of torture. “We always treated her as our daughter. We are also wondering why she killed herself.”

David Lepcha, the subdivisional police officer of Alipurduar, said an investigation had been started.