A 30-year-old woman was allegedly set afire by goons of a local moneylender on Saturday night at Begumganj, Raisen district after not divulging whereabouts of her husband who had failed to repay a loan amount.
Victim Ramdulari Soni, 30, sustained serious burn injuries on her back, stomach and waist, and was admitted to a hospital where she is undergoing treatment, police said.
A police source said Ramdulari’s husband Dharmendra Soni, 35, had taken a loan of about `4 lakh from accused moneylender Akshay Jain few months ago. Soni, who used to work as goldsmith at a local jewellery shop, had kept his house with Jain as mortgage for loan.
After he failed to repay the loan within the deadline, Soni started receiving threats from goons for the last six months and left his house on August 22 without informing his wife.
Around 11 pm on Saturday, miscreants identified as Ashok and Jagdish Soni went to his home and asked his wife about Soni but she claimed ignorance, adding that she had lodged a missing complaint of Dharmendra at Begumganj police station. Then the two men asked her to vacate the house, claiming that the property has a market value of `4 lakh which they will use to repay the loan amount.
After Ramdulari refused to comply, the two accused poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. Ramdulari’s cries alerted her neighbours who doused the fire, called the police and took her to a nearby hospital. The accused are on the run.
{{/usCountry}}After Ramdulari refused to comply, the two accused poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. Ramdulari’s cries alerted her neighbours who doused the fire, called the police and took her to a nearby hospital. The accused are on the run.
{{/usCountry}}Police have not registered a case against moneylender Jain because of his connection with law enforcement officers, added the official.
MP home minister Bhoopendra Singh said proper action would be taken against the accused.