Husband arrested for murdering wife by setting her ablaze

Tension broke out at Sahabadpur near Kaliachak in Malda as local people attempted to damage house of a youth who allegedly set his wife on fire as her mother had failed to give him Rs 50,000.

The incident took place late night on Monday. Police arrested the victim 20-year-old Manwara Bibi’s husband Kaizar Sheikh.

Police said that Manwara, who was from a poor family, was married to Kaizar a year ago. Her father had died a couple of years ago and her mother had somehow made arrangements of some money for her marriage.

Initially there was no trouble between Manwara and her husband. The situation started taking a worse turn when after a few months when Kaizar started torturing Manwara. She was beaten up by him and asked to bring Rs 50,000 from her mother.

But it had not been possible for her mother to give such a huge amount. As a result, the torture on the housewife went on increasing. She was even thrown out of her in-laws’ house. Again, her mother used to approach them with a plea not to throw her daughter out of their house.

Being a girl from a poor family, Manwara also used to remain silent and tolerated the torture on her.

Police came to know from the local people that on Monday night, Manwara gave strong reply to her husband saying that she would not ask her mother to give any money and it resulted in an altercation between them. Subsequently, Kaizar dragged her inside their room. He poured kerosene oil on her and set her on fire.

Local people rushed to the spot hearing Manwara’s cry for help and seeing the flames inside a room. They extinguished the fire and took her to Malda Medical College and Hospital where was admitted with severe burn injuries. She succumbed to her injuries early Tuesday morning.

The local people attempted to ransack the accused’s house. But police stopped them. Local people caught Kaizar and handed him over to the police.

The victim’s mother lodged a complaint with Baishnabnagar police station in this connection.