Man sets pregnant wife on fire in Bawana home

The woman initially claimed she sustained burn injuries while sitting near a bonfire. The husband was also injured in the incident

A 26-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly set ablaze by her husband at their residence in outer north Delhi’s Bawana on January 6, police said on Monday, adding she had initially claimed she sustained burn injuries while sitting near a bonfire. The husband was also injured in the incident.

Police said they are registering an FIR under sections 307 (Attempt to murder) and 498A (Dowry) of the Indian Penal Code, and added that since the husband is still in the hospital, he has not been arrested yet.

Taking cognizance of the case, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday issued a notice to Delhi Police demanding a copy of the FIR, details of the arrested person and the arrest, reasons if no arrest has been made, and detailed action taken report in the matter.

Police said they are registering an FIR under sections 307 (Attempt to murder) and 498A (Dowry) of the Indian Penal Code, and added that since the husband is still in the hospital, he has not been arrested yet.

Deputy commissioner of police (outer north) Devesh Kumar Mahla said that the woman’s brother, a resident of Tikri Kalan, called the police control room at 10.06am on January 6 and said his sister had been set ablaze by his brother-in-law, and that she had been taken to Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital.

Police met the woman, identified by her first name as Khushboo, at the hospital. Contradicting her brother, she told them that she was sitting close to a fire with her husband Veer Pratap and an acquaintance to stave off the cold. She added the acquaintance poured some paint thinner into the dying fire to revive it. She said the flames, however, burned hotter than they expected and the couple suffered burn injuries. Mahla said that Khushboo was later transferred to Safdarjung Hospital where she is undergoing treatment. “She suffered burn injuries on the face, hands and limbs. She is also seven months pregnant.”

Police said that Veer Pratap had also suffered burn injuries on both legs and the left hand and is also undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. While the woman has 20% burns, the husband has 25% burns, police said.

However, in a statement to the sub-divisional magistrate (Narela) recorded on Monday, the woman alleged that her husband had been harassing her since they got married in August last year and he was the one who set her ablaze.

“She said that the husband got injured while trying to douse the fire once people in the neighbourhood gathered,” a senior police officer, aware of the matter, said, asking not to be named.

“Since the allegations were against the husband (in less than 7 years of marriage), the matter was brought to the notice of the sub-divisional magistrate (Narela) on January 6 and her statement was recorded by authorities on Monday,” the DCP said.

DCW said that they issued a notice to the police based on the woman’s statement to the magistrate. “The woman has given a statement before the SDM wherein she has clearly said that her husband burnt her. She has said that he used to hit her after taking alcohol. She has also stated that her husband was trying to seek her jewellery. But when she refused, a fight took place. Her husband tried to burn her using thinner, but got partially burnt himself,” they said in a statement.