A 42-year-old woman from Assam’s Tezpur succumbed to severe burn injuries on Wednesday, August 5 morning after her husband allegedly set her ablaze following a domestic dispute. The incident occurred late on Tuesday night at Pahumara Chuburi in Sonitpur district.
Family members of Meghali alleged that her husband, Jayanta Saikia (45), poured petrol on her and set her on fire after an argument. They claimed that Meghali had been a victim of domestic violence for years but the abuse had escalated in recent times.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sonitpur, Barun Purkayastha, confirmed Jayanta’s arrest. “The accused fled after the incident but was apprehended during a police operation early Wednesday. A case has been registered at Tezpur Police Station (case no. 548/25) under section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),” Purkayastha said.
The SSP added that investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether Jayanta poured petrol on Meghali or whether she self-immolated in a suicide attempt.
Meanwhile, Jayanta’s family members claimed that Meghali had poured petrol or kerosene on herself in an attempt to commit suicide. They said that Jayanta’s brother sustained burn injuries while trying to save her. “He was injured while dousing the flames and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital,” they added.
