Karnataka: 7-year-old sets herself ablaze to imitate fire dance scene showed in teleserial

A seven-year-old girl in Karnataka died after she set herself ablaze in an attempt to imitate a fire-dance scene from a popular Kannada teleserial. The incident took place at Harihara in Davanagere district on November 11 and she succumbed to her burn injuries the next day.

The incident came to light on Wednesday after the minor’s parents lodged a complaint with the Harihara police station. The victim has been identified as Prarthana, a class II student of a private school in Davanagere.

According to the girl’s mother Chaitra, Prarthana used to watch two tele-serials, including a horror-thriller. “In one of the serials, the lead character performed fire dance. She was influenced by the dance and immitated it when on one was at home.”

Police said the victim, in an attempt to imitate the scene reportedly burnt a few papers and threw them around without realising that it will engulf her too.

On learning about the incident Kannada teleserial artists have expressed their condolence to the family.