Married woman set ablaze for dowry at Saharsa

B N Singh Pappan

Saharsa : A married woman Durga Devi, 21, sustained hundred percent burn injuries after he in-laws allegedly poured Herosene oil on her body and set her ablaze at Sarrahi colony under Sadar police station, Saharsa, on June 8, 2017, afternoon. She was admitted to Saharsa Sadar hospital in critical condition.

Durga’s husband Bablu Das, father-in-law Sikandar Das and mother-in-law Rani Devi are  absconding after the incident. When a Sadar police station team reached their house, it found the house locked. Durga’s kin alleged that her in-laws quarrelled with her on June 7 night and again on June 8 morning over their dowry demand for Rs 5 lakh. Durga was set ablaze when she was sleeping on June 8 afternoon, they alleged.

Durga was married to Bablu Das about 18 months back. Bablu was a teacher in a coaching institute where Durga studied before her marriage. Both fell in love with each other there and subsequently got married though Bablu’s parents were opposed to it. Later, Bablu too joined his parents in demanding dowry from Durga’s parents. Police have started investigation into the incident.