Suspecting infidelity, man sets wife ablaze

Bathinda, April 22

A class IV employee of the Education Department set his wife on fire at Bibiwala village on Saturday afternoon as he was doubtful of her character.

Having suffered 90 per cent burns, the victim was referred to the Faridkot medical college, but her kin admitted her to a local private hospital. Accused Amrik Singh managed to escape, along with his mother, after the incident.

Duty Magistrate Kamaljeet Singh recorded the victim’s statement in the presence of the Nathana police.

Amrik and his mother have been booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.

In her statement, victim Simarjeet Kaur (28) said she was married to Amrik Singh, a class IV employee at a government school in Naruana village 10 years ago.

They have two sons (aged nine and six). According to the victim, her husband doubted her character due to which they had quarrels in the past.

They again had a fight over the issue on Saturday too after which her husband doused her with petrol and set her ablaze. Her mother-in-law and both sons were present in the house at the time of the incident, she added.

The accused immediately escaped with his mother while her sons called neighbours, who controlled the fire and rushed her to the Civil Hospital. According to doctors, the victim sustained 90 per cent burns and her condition was critical.

The police also recorded the statements of both her sons, who told the police that their father set their mother ablaze.

Bhupinderjit Singh, SHO of the Nathana police station, said they were conducting raids to nab the accused. — TNS