25-year-old woman set on fire for rejecting marriage proposal

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman was set on fire, allegedly by her neighbour, in northwest Delhi’s Mukundpur on Saturday after she turned down his marriage proposal

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman was set on fire, allegedly by her neighbour, in northwest Delhi’s Mukundpur on Saturday after she turned down his marriage proposal and accused him of harassment.

HT Image

The suspect’s family allegedly assaulted the woman’s mother, brother and his friend in their house, police said.

The woman, who suffered 70% burns, was admitted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital by her family. As her condition was critical, doctors referred her to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in central Delhi.

Police arrested the neighbour, Abhishek, his brother Karan and their uncle Vijay.

A case under sections 323 (hurt), 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (house trespass) and 34 (common intention) of IPC was registered against them at the Bhalswa Dairy police station.

The FIR, the officer said, was registered on a complaint filed by the woman’s brother, who works in a private company. In the complaint, he said that on Saturday evening, his sister got a message from Abhishek on her mobile asking her to meet him at 11 pm. In the message, Abhishek threatened to kill her if she failed to meet him.

“The woman showed the message to her brother who met Abhishek and rebuked him for threatening his sister. Abhishek apologised and assured him he would not harass her again,” said the officer, quoting the brother’s statement.

The brother left for a nearby market later. Around 8.15 pm, he returned home and found Abhishek’s uncle, Vijay, arguing with his mother and verbally abusing her.

When he protested, Vijay pushed his mother because of which she fell on the stairs. Vijay called Abhishek, Karan, and others and they allegedly attacked the brother and his friend Pawan with blunt objects.

Hearing her scream, other neighbours came and doused the fire and rushed her to the hospital.

Investigators learnt Abhishek allegedly was in a relationship with the woman. But her family members had disapproved it and had asked her not to meet him.