Husband Sets Wife on Fire for Dowry

Madhumayanti Nandi

12th October 2020

In a horrific case of dowry harassment, a 26-year-old small paan shop owner allegedly poured petrol over his 20-year-old wife and set her on fire in her house at TC Palya in Ramamurthy, Bangalore, the previous week. Chandini Devi, the victim, has been admitted to Victoria Hospital, where her condition is said to be critical.

Newly married woman set on fire by husband for dowry (Source: Times of India)

In her statement to the police, the victim claimed that her husband, Suraj, demanded that she bring in a dowry of Rs 20 lakhs or leave the house. "The couple was having a lot of fights every day since then, and on October 6, the couple had a huge fight in the morning," Ramamurthy Nagar police said, according to The News Minute. The woman, who refused to ask her parents for money, fought with her husband and in-law. "In her complaint, she stated that she cooked food and went upstairs and became unconscious. She woke up when her husband set her on fire," the police added.

The victim cried for help and ran outside her house while her lower body was on fire. Her neighbours rushed to help her and doused the flames while her husband and mother-in-law fled the house. Neighbours rushed her to Balaji Nursing Home- shifted her to Victoria Hospital for treatment. She has suffered third-degree burns on her lower body and torso.

The police have registered an FIR under sections 498A (dowry harassment), 307 (attempted murder, 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) against Suraj Singh.

"The woman's family members gave a complaint, and we registered an FIR. We are investigating the incident and why the doctors did not register a medico-legal case. We are also checking to see if the accused laced her food with a substance to render her unconscious. A blood sample has been sent to the FSL," the police added, as reported by The News Minute.

News Sources: TOI, The Hindu, The New Minute, City24/7 News

Edited by - Sanskriti Airon