Jaisalmer woman set ablaze by husband, in-laws dies during treatment, all arrested
A 40-year-old woman died during treatment at a hospital in Jodhpur on Thursday after she was set on fire at her matrimonial home in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, police said. Her family has accused her husband and other in-laws of subjecting her to dowry harassment, torture and superstition-related abuse.
The incident took place on September 21 in Korwa village in Jaisalmer. The woman, Hina Behl, wife of Bhagwanaram Behl, suffered burns over more than 90 per cent of her body after petrol was poured on her and she was set on fire, according to police.
Hina was initially taken to Jawahir Hospital in Jaisalmer in a critical condition. She was later referred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur for specialised treatment. Police said she was unconscious when she was brought to Jaisalmer and could not record her statement.
She died during treatment in Jodhpur at around 6 am on Thursday. Her post-mortem was conducted by a medical board in Jodhpur, following which her body was handed over to her family, police said.
Local police station's SHO Bhagu Ram said a case was registered following a complaint by Hina’s father, Purkharam Bhil. Based on the complaint, police initially detained and subsequently arrested her husband Bhagwanaram, father-in-law Sonaram, mother-in-law Lasmo Devi and sister-in-law Amrita Devi for questioning.
According to the complaint, Hina married Bhagwanaram on June 29, 2012. Her father claimed that her in-laws initially behaved normally but later began subjecting her to physical and mental harassment.
The family has also accused Hina’s sister-in-law of preventing her from having children with the aim of gaining control over ancestral property. The complaint alleges that Hina was given medicines and other substances without her knowledge in the name of treatment, with her family suspecting that these were intended to cause abortions.
Her father also claimed that members of the family subjected Hina to superstitious practices, including taking her to a local shrine and carrying out rituals and purported occult practices. The family has further alleged that she was harassed over a demand to bring a car from her parental home.
Police said they were investigating all the allegations. A forensic science team and other investigation teams were sent to the spot to collect evidence.
The case is being investigated based on the complaint filed by Hina’s father. Police are also examining the circumstances surrounding the September 21 incident and the allegations of prolonged harassment preceding it.- EndsWith inputs from Vimal Bhatia
