A 28-year-old woman, identified as Nikki, tragically died on Saturday after being allegedly set on fire by her husband and in-laws in Greater Noida. The incident, which police say was the culmination of years of harassment over dowry demands, occurred on August 21 in Sirsa village.
Nikki’s husband, Vipin Bhati, 28, has been arrested in connection with her death. However, his father, Satyaveer Bhati, and brother, Rohit Bhati, both of whom have also been named in the First Information Report (FIR), are currently absconding.
According to a complaint filed by Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, the alleged abuse began shortly after Nikki’s marriage in December 2016. While no dowry was exchanged at the time of the wedding, Nikki’s husband and in-laws allegedly started pressuring her to bring ₹35 lakh from her family. When the demand wasn’t met, the harassment reportedly escalated, leading to the fatal attack.
The complaint alleges that on August 21 at around 5:30 p.m., Vipin, along with his mother Daya, father Satyaveer, and brother Rohit, doused Nikki with an inflammable liquid and set her ablaze. Nikki, who suffered severe burns, was rushed to Fortis Hospital in Noida and was being shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi when she succumbed to her injuries.
The FIR also names Nikki’s mother-in-law, Daya, who, along with her husband and sons, allegedly participated in the attack. Vipin, who runs a grocery shop with his family, was arrested soon after the complaint was filed. Police are currently searching for the other accused individuals.