Greater Noida’s Sirsa village wears a desolate look after Nikki’s killing

The main road of Greater Noida’s Sirsa village, usually lined up with open shops and buzzing with activity, is silent. Shutters are down, families have left and those who remain avoid conversation. The three-storey house where 28-year-old Nikki Bhati lived with her husband Vipin and in-laws is locked.

Since August 21, when Nikki was allegedly set ablaze in her marital home, residents say police raids and arrests have unsettled the locality. “The police stormed our house and picked my son. They even took his phone. I don’t know where he is,” Rajendri, a neighbour, told The Tribune. “They broke the locks of all our gates. What was our fault?”

Another neighbour, Dharamvati, said quietly: “She was my daughter-in-law. This should not have happened.” Vidya, also from the neighbourhood, claimed the police had taken away several residents during the investigation.

“We saw the videos in the news…she was engulfed in flames, stumbling down these stairs,” said Meena, pointing towards Nikki’s home.

According to the police, Nikki was tortured and set on fire by her husband Vipin and his family over Rs 36 lakh dowry demand. Her sister Kanchan, who recorded videos on her phone, captured Nikki being dragged by the hair and later collapsing in flames on the staircase.

Kanchan, who tried to save her sister, said both women had long endured abuse. “They beat us for days. They hit her on the neck and head, threw acid and set her on fire in front of her child,” she told reporters, adding that she was injured and briefly lost consciousness while trying to rescue Nikki.

Vipin, who ran a general store in the locality, was arrested on August 21. His mother, Dayavati, who had been missing since the incident, was arrested on Sunday. Other relatives are absconding.

The ADCP, Greater Noida, Sudhir Kumar, said, “On August 21, we got the news at the Kasna police station that a man, along with his family members, killed his wife. The police arrested the accused husband.”

He said on Sunday, Vipin was taken for the recovery of evidence. “He burnt his wife with a flammable substance. He was brought here for the recovery of the bottle. During recovery, he snatched the pistol of an officer and ran away.”

“He fired at the police with the intention of killing them. The police’s retaliatory action was carried out at his feet. The injured person was immediately sent to the hospital for treatment. The rest of the proceedings are pending,” ADCP Kumar added.

The police said a case had been registered at the Kasna police station under Sections 302 (murder), 498-A (cruelty by husband or relatives) and 304-B (dowry death) of the BNS. Vipin has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

Nikki’s father said she had twice returned to her parents’ home after reporting abuse, but was sent back on assurances that the violence would end. “They killed my daughter. The accused should be hanged. Bulldozers should be used against them,” he said.

Residents said quarrels between the couple were not unusual. “Vipin had affairs. They often fought. Nikki wanted to run her beauty parlour, but he didn’t want that,” said Anuj, who runs a plywood shop nearby. “I don’t think he had burnt her,” he said, claiming that he had seen Vipin outside his shop when the incident took place.