Husband, in-laws arrested for killing woman over dowry

NEW DELHI: A 24-year-old woman died after allegedly being set on fire by her in-laws in West Delhi's Vikaspuri.

On Friday night, Parvinder Kaur was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with serious burn injuries, where she succumbed to her injuries.

However, before her last breath, Kaur gave a dying declaration to police and blamed her in-laws for setting her on fire.

"We have arrested the accused under Section 302 of IPC. We have arrested the husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law of the deceased girl. Our investigation has revealed that all three were at home during the incident," said DCP West, Vijay Kumar.

A call was made to cops from H-Block, Vikaspuri, about the woman being set on fire, after which a police team rushed to the spot to find the woman with serious burns.

They also found traces of kerosene, a matchbox and three buckets at the house.

Police recorded the victim's statement at Safdarjung Hospital, wherein she said that she had gone to her in-laws' house to bring her son's clothes around 9.30 pm.

During that time, she was set on fire by her husband Gurcharan Singh and his family members.

The victim's family alleged that ever since Parvinder was married to Gurcharan, she was constantly troubled for dowry.

Her in-laws operate a finance and property business and live just a few metres away from the victim's house in Vikaspuri.

"They always asked us for cash and if we said 'No' they troubled her. In fact, we had spent heavily on her marriage. But their demands were increasing day by day, since she got married in 2012" said Amandeep, Kaur's brother.

As seven years have not passed since the marriage, an inquiry headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate will also take place. A case was immediatedly registered with the police, who filed an FIR under the section of murder.

The victim's family also alleged that Kaur's in-laws also prevented them from entering their house when neighbours informed them that their daughter had been set on fire.

"We might have her, if they had not stopped us. We lost our sister. Who will now look after her four-year-old boy? They (in-laws) should be severely punished for their deeds." Amandeep said.