32-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Set Ablaze By Husband, Father-In-Law

In a rather disturbing episode, an Indian woman was set allegedly ablaze by her husband Ashu Kushwah and father-in-law owing to her inability to conceive after a decade of marriage. The incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district. Complaints have been made against three individuals, including the victim’s sister-in-law for her alleged involvement in the case. The police are yet to make any arrests in this regard.

The victim was reportedly subjected to habitual harassment, but it isn’t certain as to whether a complaint was filed in the past. Recent reports cite that the woman was rushed to a healthcare unit, and is currently being treated for the injuries at a private hospital in Agra. Her health condition continues to remain critical.

Ashok Kumar, the victim’s brother, alleged that the horrific incident occurred over the weekend, on Sunday evening. A recent report by India Today suggests that Kumar was informed about the episode by neighbors who heard the victim’s wails before they rushed to her rescue.

Aghast by his sister’s plight, Kumar spoke to the media about how saddened the family was by the turn of events.

While a further probe is underway, reports cite that Ashu Kushwah's sperm count was reportedly low but the victim was at the receiving end for the unfortunate condition. Sources suggest that the woman's family was often tortured by her husband’s family on the grounds of dowry-related disputes. The report suggests that the victim’s family claimed they had already paid Rs 4 lakh ($0.4 million) to her in-laws in hopes that it would help her survive in the household.

India has witnessed an uptick in domestic violence cases in the past couple of months. In another unfortunate incident, a 19-year-old woman was being harassed for dowry. This came to light after she was found dead at her in-laws house. Times Now News reported that the young bride was allegedly abused for dowry just three months into the marriage.

The deceased, identified as Suchithra, was married to Vishnu in March. Speculations are rife that Suchithra’s family had already paid a lumpsum amount to Vishnu’s family in the past. But, the abuse allegedly only worsened over time.