Cop’s wife set afire by father-in-law, dies

TARNTARAN: Police have booked an 80-year-old man for allegedly setting his daughter-in-law afire at Burj Poohla village, 30 km from the district headquarters.

Harjinder Kaur, 45, wife of a constable with the Indian Reserve Battalion police, received 85% burns and succumbed to her injuries at an Amritsar hospital on Thursday.

In her statement at the Patti civil hospital, the victim said her husband Gursahib Singh is posted in Amritsar and she had been living with her father-inlaw Arjun Singh and two children.

On Wednesday morning, a minor quarrel ensued between her and the accused over some domestic issue.

“In the afternoon, I was alone in the courtyard of the house, when he came, poured petrol and set me afire,” the woman said.

The victim fell unconscious and was rushed to hospital by the neighbours.

Owing to her severe burn injuries, the doctors referred her to an Amritsar hospital, said sub-inspector Surinderpal Singh of Harike police station.

“We have added Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case against the accused, who is absconding,” the sub-inspector informed. Further investigations into the case are on, the official said.