Woman set ablaze in Nashik district, suffers 50 per cent burns

A 35-year-old woman was set on fire at the Lasalgaon bus stand in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Saturday evening allegedly by a 25-old-man with whom she was in

A 35-year-old woman was set on fire at the Lasalgaon bus stand in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Saturday evening allegedly by a 25-old-man with whom she was in relationship with, following an argument, police said.

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The victim, a widow, suffered 50 per cent burn injuries in the incident that occurred around 5pm, a police official said.

Prima facie, the woman was unhappy as the man got engaged with another woman, after marrying the victim in a temple a month ago, he said.

Two men accompanying the accused were later detained by police. The woman had called the accused at the bus stand to meet her, following which he, one of his relatives and another man reached the spot, he said.

The victim, who was sitting on a two wheeler, was already carrying petrol in a bottle, the official said, adding that she started arguing with the accused over the matter.

“As they were having an argument, the woman poured petrol on herself. As per the woman, the accused got hold of the matchbox she was carrying and set her on fire,” the official said. While the accused ran away from the spot, the two men accompanying him were detained.

The woman was rushed to hospital by some onlookers and the police. In her statement recorded with the police, the woman told them that she had brought the petrol in the bottle, he said.

CM Uddhav Thackeray, Bhujbal meet victim

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who was visiting the district met the victim at the hospital on late Saturday night.

He was accompanied by the district guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Recently, a 25-year-old woman college lecturer was set on afire in Wardha district of the state by her stalker. She died during treatment in Nagpur on February 10 after battling for life for seven days.

Similarly in Aurangabad, a 50-year old woman died after she was assaulted and set ablaze in her home by a beer bar owner in Andhari village.

Taking serious cognizance of both the incidents, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had ordered the police and home departments to ensure the accused get the most stringent punishment in the shortest possible time.

“The security of women and children is our priority. Any employees or officers found negligent or lethargic in their duties, will be dealt with very strictly,” he warned.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had said that the government will be “more sensitive in future” to ensure that such incidents do not happen. “It is shameful for the progressive state like Maharashtra that we could not avert such cases,” he said.