BHOPAL : After carrying out investigation for almost a month into the mysterious death of a 26-year-old woman who died of severe burns on September 27, Berasia police on Saturday booked her husband and in-laws on charges of murder for allegedly setting her afire over domestic dispute.
The victim, identified as Bhuri Bai, a resident of Mela Ground was brought to the district hospital with more than 90 per cent burns. She later succumbed. SDOP Berasia Beena Singh said. However the husband of victim woman told police that she accidentally caught fire while cooking food in the house.
Bhuri’s family has alleged that ever since her marriage to Devi Singh six years ago, she was being harassed by her husband and the in-laws over petty disputes, SDOP Singh said. According to neighbours, on Sept 27, when all the villagers were busy for preparations of Ganesh Chaturthi, there was quarrel between the couple following which the accused Devi Singh poured kerosene of Bhuri and then set her ablaze. Hearing the screams of victim when neighbours rushed the spot to douse fire, the accused Devi Singh stopped them outside house and threatened of dire consequences.
On the basis of the complaint of the victims’ parents and statements of neighbours, a case under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC has been lodged with Berasia police against the accused husband Devi Singh, sister-in-law Maya and brother-in-law Arjun Singh but no arrest has been made so far, the SDOP added.