Husband accused of setting wife on fire over character suspicion arrested

Police have arrested a man who was accused of tying his wife to a cot and setting her on fire by sprinkling petrol on her due to suspicion about her character. This incident took place in Ghamurwali village near Sriganganagar. Police said that the victim, Manju, who is badly burned due to the fire, is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Bikaner.

On the basis of her statement, a case was registered against her husband, Bindu Lal alias Varinder Nayak, on August 18 for attempted murder. Bindu Lal is being produced in court today.

Manju’s first husband had passed away. After that, in 2019, she was married to her husband’s younger brother, Bindu Lal alias Varinder Nayak, with the consent of both families. Manju also has a 5-year-old son from her second marriage. Manju told the police that Bindu Lal had been doubting her character since the beginning and also used to beat her. Two days before the incident, she was having a severe headache. For treatment, she had gone to her aunt’s son, Ram Swaroop, in the village Joiyanwali, who cures diseases. She stayed at her aunt’s son’s house that night.

The victim said that when she returned the next day, Bindu Lal beat her up out of suspicion. Then his elder son, Sunil, and neighbour Sonu saved her.

Investigation indicated that last Monday, when their children went to school, Bindu Lal allegedly tied Manju to a cot, poured petrol from a bottle that was already hidden under a trunk in the house, and set her on fire. He fled after the crime. Neighbours rushed in as Manju cried for help and took her to a hospital. Since then, she has been in a critical condition.