Wife burnt alive as husband failed to repay $484 debt

A man burnt alive a 30-year-old woman as her husband failed to repay Rs 30,000 ($484) that he borrowed from the accused. The woman died while undergoing treatment on Wednesday night. The police are yet to arrest the accused.

According to the police, the incident occurred at Redi village near Taranagar area in the district. “The woman, Maina Kanwar, was with her daughter in the house on Tuesday. Maina’s husband Sheeshpal Singh had gone to a nearby village for some work,” said a police officer.

The officer said that one Hari Singh, also a resident of Redi village, came to the house and asked Maina to give him the money which he had lent to Sheeshpal.

“Maina told him that her husband was not home and he should come back when he returned. It led to a heated argument between them. When Hari Singh started beating up the woman, she rushed into a room. He followed her with a kerosene can in his hands. He poured it on her and put her on fire using flames from a heater lying nearby,” said the officer. The woman’s daughter started crying for help following which neighbours rushed to the house. However, by that time, Hari Singh managed to escape.

Maina Kanwar sustained nearly 80% burn injuries. She was rushed to a hospital in Bikaner where she died while undergoing treatment on Wednesday night. The police said Hari Singh was booked for murder after the woman’s death and a search has been launched for him.