A man in a Haryana village has been arrested for allegedly setting his wife on fire, causing her death, and injuring his stepmother.
A man allegedly murdered his wife and critically injured his stepmother late on Sunday as he set them on fire in a village in the Hisar district of Haryana.
According to the Hisar police, they have arrested Ram Bhagat from the Mahjat village in Hansi. They said while his wife Bharpo Devi succumbed to burn injuries on the spot, his stepmother Geeta Devi sustained over 40 per cent burn injuries and was admitted to Hisar’s civil hospital.
“The accused has been arrested and the injured woman is being treated at the hospital. Further investigations are on,” Siddharth Bishnoi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said.The police said Ram Bhagat is a drug addict and had come out of the rehabilitation centre around six months ago. Officers also said Ram Bhagat allegedly attempted to kill Bharpo Devi three years ago.
They said the crime appears to be “pre-meditated”, and that Ram Bhagat first locked the main door of his house, had his dinner, and called his wife to the room.
“When she came, he poured kerosene oil over her, and put her on fire. His stepmother Geeta Devi tried to rescue Bharpo Devi but the accused poured kerosene oil over her and put her on fire as well. Both women tried to get out of the house but since he had locked the main door, they could not,” one of the investigating officers said.
“Geeta Devi tried to go to the terrace, but he chased her and did not let her escape. While both of them struggled, the accused kept watching them. It was only after the neighbours heard their screams and intervened, the police were informed. Ram Bhagat was found sitting outside his house when the police arrived,” said the officer.
