A 15-year-old boy from the northern Indian city of Agra is currently in the hospital recovering from severe self-inflicted burns after he was teased and harassed for being gay.
He was reportedly discovered by a neighbor being intimate with a male friend in a local park. News spread quickly, and soon the accomplished student was being publicly bullied.
The teenager ran home and locked himself in his room for two days, worrying his family.
Then suddenly, he emerged from his home covered in diesel which he had taken from a car and set himself on fire.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Neighbors and family members rushed out when they heard him screaming, pouring water on him and covering him with a blanket.
They rushed him to the hospital, where his family now anxiously awaits his recovery. Doctors said he suffered 40% burns, most severely on his legs and chest.
“He is unable to speak properly. The doctors say he is out of danger but I will only believe it when my son will talk to me,” said the victim’s father.
Being gay remains largely a taboo in Indian culture, and homophobia is rampant. The Indian government classifies sex between to people of the same gender an act punishable by law.
Bryguyf69
For better or worse, it might have been better that he burned himself rather than have a family member do it as an “honor killing.” While I have no proof that his family is homophobic, burning is common punishment for someone who “embarrassed” or “dishonored” the family in rural areas of India. It’s usually done to daughters or daughter-in-laws but I can certainly see it done to gays as well. And again, I stress that I don’t know if the family is homophobic. For all I know, the teen is out to his family and they’re supportive. Tragic story,
Glücklich
How awful. Jesus, and recovering from severe burns in an Indian hospital…iffy.
Trivia: Agra is home to the Taj Mahal and Red Fort.
Bryguyf69
“he emerged from his home covered in diesel which he had taken from a car and set himself on fire. Neighbors and family members rushed out when they heard him screaming, pouring water on him and covering him with a blanket.”
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NO NO NO NO!!! FYI, if an accelerant or other flammable liquid is involved, DO NOT pour water on the fire! It will simply spread the liquid and widen the fire. This is a common mistake in the kitchen, where grease fires may occur. The solution is to smother the fire. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, the best alternative is baking soda, which releases CO2 (carbon dioxide) when wet or heated. That deprives the fire of oxygen. Alternatively, cover the fire with a WET towel and quickly pat out the fire with a spatula or similar tool. Try not to use a dry towel because it will soak up the accelerant and act like a wick.
HINT: after a box of baking soda has outlived its life as a refrigerator deodorant, keep it near the stove to extinguish fires. You can test if it still contains active CO2 but mixing a bit of it with an acid, i.e. vinegar or lemon juice. If it fizzles and bubbles, it’s fine.
GayEGO
This is horrible and this boy needs our support with hugs and love as he is the good one, the bully is the bad one.
Black Pegasus
Welp, his life just took a turn for the worst. Poor kid. I can’t imagine the horror he must be feeling right now.
Clai Green
Sounds like serious personal issues ! These teens are on every drug possible that makes them depressed ! I was bullied I was fine
John Kuehnle
It shouldn’t come to this in this day and age. The bullies, karma…
Rick Caffey
STOP THE BULLING
youarekiddingme
@Clai Green: So you were bullied and you’re fine…how nice. What country did you grow up in? What socioeconomic status were you raised in? Since he’s depressed he must be on drugs huh. Do you know anything about depression? Anything about mental illness at all? No, doubtful that it’s due to drug use. The kid is from India. A country that still criminalizes homosexual behavior. When was the last time that was the case in the US? Typical privileged white, upper middle class comment. Sheesh.
Kieran
Fecking Hindus!
Bryguyf69
@Kieran: Er, where is it stated that Hinduism had anything to do with it? India has a significant Muslim population as well, and they’re in conflict with the Hindus. There are even Christians and Buddhists, etc.
dean3000
@Bryguyf69: wow. Bit of a c u n t aren’t ya
Bryguyf69
@dean3000: What the F are you talking about? Are you saying that it’s preferable to be burned and tortured by others? You obviously know little about Asian culture, where self-emoliation is often seen as honorable, and suicide doesn’t have the stigma it does here. Note that I never said that it’s good that he burned himself. I said that given the choice of self-emoliation or being burned by others, the former is preferable. Educate yourself about “honor killings” in India. The NY Times has had some good articles.
So why am I a C U N T? Sorry, but your ignorance doesn’t make me a C U N T.
http://www.ibtimes.com/honor-killing-india-couple-lynched-burnt-alive-eastern-state-bihar-case-filed-against-1922047
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_killing#India
Kangol
This poor kid. I feel so bad for him. No one should be bullied, ever. I hope he completely recovers, and that the jackasses who bullied him experience some harsh karma.`
BlogShag
I did this to one of my “friends” for revenge. Got his kids taken away. Payback’s a bitch
Glücklich
@BlogShag:
Dafuq?
Captain Obvious
As expected r@cist comments and stereotypes like there are no homophobes in America.
Kangol
@Captain Obvious: Yep. They can’t help themselves.