According to police, the wife poured petrol on Arun Patwa (45) and set him on fire before locking the door from outside and fleeing the spot. Arun, who suffered nearly 70% burns, was rushed to the hospital by neighbours but died during treatment.
Husband Returned Home After Attending Niece’s Wedding
DD Nagar police said Arun had returned late at night after attending his niece’s wedding. Another argument erupted between the couple, both of whom had been living separately despite being married for 22 years.
Family members said Arun had gone to sleep when his wife attacked him, doused him in petrol, ignited the fire, and escaped after bolting the door. Hearing his cries, neighbours alerted police and helped take him to the hospital.
Long-Standing Marital Discord
Relatives told police that the couple had been in conflict for several years and had no children. Previous disputes had also reached the police station, they claimed. Arun’s family alleged that the accused woman had earlier created pressure by threatening self-harm and causing disturbances at home.
Police Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case of murder against the wife and launched an investigation. Statements of neighbours and family members are being recorded. The postmortem has been completed, and officials said further action will be based on forensic findings and witness accounts.
The incident has created a sense of unease in the locality.
