West Bengal: Woman burnt to death by in-laws, father suicides

Woman burnt to death by husband and in-laws. Her father, later, committed suicide too.

Arindam De
Barasat, December 16, 2017 | UPDATED 21:49 IST
Picture for representationPicture for representation

She was tied to a chair and set alight before the eyes of her three-year-old daughter. Her elderly father had approached the courts asking for action against his son-in-law and other relatives. They got bail from the court and started to pressurise him and his family to withdraw the case. The pressure got intense in the last week or so. They even came to his home to threaten him. Unable to take it any further her father Khokon Saha consumed poison. Taken to the RG Kar hospital in a critical condition, he passed away early on Saturday. However, he recorded his dying statement with the police and named the accused. Police have started to search for the accused, who are absconding. Around a couple of years ago Nita Pal of Hridaypur died of burn injuries. Her husband Prabir Pal and other relatives claimed that she had committed suicide. However the case turned on its head after their three-year-old daughter spoke about the day.

Police sources said that the child told them how she was awakened that night by the groans of her mother. She saw that her father, uncles, grandmother and grandfather beat her up and took her to another room. Then she was tied to a chair, kerosene was poured over her and she was set on fire.

Her grandmother wanted to kill the child too, but other family members reportedly stopped her. Nita's father, the now deceased Khokon Saha registered a complaint with the Barasat police station.

Based on his complaint Nita's husband Prabir, uncles Tanmay and Subir, mother-in-law Gita and father-in-law Gautam were arrested by police. However they got bail from the Kolkata High Court after some months in custody.  

However the judge had ruled that none of the accused would be free to enter North 24 Parganas without informing the local police station.

Wife of the deceased Khokon Saha, mother of Nita Pal alleged that since they secured bail Prabir and his family were constantly pressurising  Nita's family to withdraw the case. She had even lodged complaint in this regard with the Madhyamgram police station. She alleges that no action was taken.