Get to the point!

OCCASIONAL RANT NO. 8:

Here is the intro to a Page 1 story in today's DNA:

In a chilling incident, a 19-year-old girl—who was allegedly in a relationship with an advocate—was allegedly raped and later set on fire by him, after he managed to lure her to his house promising to find accommodation for her in a hostel. 

Here is the headline for the same story:

19-year-old girl raped and set ablaze by advocate

Do readers need to be told that this is a "chilling incident"? Shouldn't a hard news intro get to the point right away? Why do many hard news stories in our newspapers begin with a prefatory comment or a subsidiary clause?

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  Ankita Bhattacherjee and 2 others like this.
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    Faye DSouza Let's not miss the ungracefully constructed sentence with so many unnecessary clauses. Why can't newspapers write short, clear, simple sentences?

    6 hours ago · Edited ·  · Catherine Dequadros + 1 other
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    Ankana Sinha Allegedly, twice in one sentence? Why?

    6 hours ago · 
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    Ankita Bhattacherjee Sir, the sub needs to join COMMITS or at least attend your class. :)

    about an hour ago · 
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    Faye DSouza Also from today's DNA
    
    "The fear of being targeted on communal lines in the wake of the recent Assam riots has led to an exodus of over 15,000 people from Assam working in Bangalore" (sic)

    43 minutes ago ·