The Jharkhand High Court today directed the state police to provide protection to the family of Ankita Singh who died recently after being set on fire by a stalker.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad had today morning directed the DGP of state to appear before it, before the direction was issued.

The President of the Jharkhand High Court Advocate Association, Advocate Ritu Kumar and other lawyers today mentioned the issue before the Bench of the Chief Justice based on news reports about the incident.

The Court has also told the DGP that a proper investigation be conducted in the matter and that the Court will monitor the investigation.

Ankita from the Dumka District of Jharkhand died on August 28 after the stalker Shahrukh Hussain is alleged to have poured petrol on her while she was sleeping on a bed near a window and setting her on fire. She was taken to hospital and died a few days later.

While in hospital, Ankita had given a videographed statement naming Shahrukh Hussain. A Magistrate had recorded her statement from the hospital.

Ankita's father has told the media that Ankita was murdered because she refused the advances of Shahrukh. "Shahrukh used to tell her - marry me, accept Islam, else I will make your life hell," Ankita's father is reported to have said.

The video statement of Anikta had gone viral on social media after Shahrukh was photographed smiling while in police custody. There was yet another controversy about the crime after an India Today report named the accused 'Abhishek'.