Boy, 12 burnt alive

A 12-year-old Indian boy was burned alive by two men in an apparent argument over a kite string.

Vidhu Jain, the son of a kite seller, was taken hostage as he cycled to his younger brother's school to deliver his packed lunch in the town of Malerkotla in Sangrur district yesterday.

Witnesses later saw him running and screaming down a lane after he was allegedly doused in fuel and set on fire on a building site.

Passersby rushed him to hospital with 100 per cent burns, but he died of his injuries.

His father, Navneet Jain, who owns a shop in the town, told The Times of India: 'My son left home in the afternoon on a bicycle to deliver a lunch box to his younger brother who studies at another school.

'His shrieks were heard at a secluded place near Nawab Colony.

'Some passersby said that the child was on fire and they immediately took him to the civil hospital.'

In a statement to police before his death, Vidhu said he could not identify his killers, but recognised them because he had a heated argument with them over a kite string three days previously.

According to the Hindustan Times, the boy told his father the argument had taken place in front of their servant at the shop.

Police said they trying to trace the servant who has since gone missing.

News of his death has sparked protests in the town by residents who have damaged buses and blocked highways.

Police officials said that they were trying to identify the people who set the boy on fire.

'We are investigating the incident,' a police officer in Malerkotla said.

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