In a heartrending incident, a couple allegedly set their 18-year-old married daughter on fire for honour at an under construction house in Tarini Colony under Balianta police limits on the outskirts of the city on Friday. She had eloped with her lover four months ago, police sources said.
The deceased Umabharti Mallik, a resident of Panpana village in Khantapada in Baleswar district, was staying with her husband Nigamananda Mallik (23) of same village.
The Commissionerate Police immediately arrested girl’s father Radhagovinda Mallik (42) and mother Shantilata (40), who allegedly set their daughter on fire by pouring kerosene on her body and gagging her with a towel.
According to reports, Nigamananda and Uma had a love affair when the former was working in a farm land owned by Uma’s father in Panpana village. When the family members of the girl knew the matter, they got angry.
Even a proposal for marriage was rejected by them since the boy was married.
However, finding that the family members were against the marriage proposal, Uma had eloped with the body and settled here to avoid threatening from her father.
After four months, Uma’s mother Shantilata came to meet her and stayed with her. She said Uma that the family had condoned their marriage and was ready to solemnize it at home.
In a pre-planned way, Uma’s father came on Friday morning and convinced her to take her home and arrange the marriage.
The couple asked Nigamananda to hire an auto-rickshaw to catch train. When he left home, the couple tied Uma with a towel and set her on fire, said the police.
An eye witness, who informed the police, said that while he was crossing the house he found smoke emanating from the house. He rushed to the spot and was shocked to find a girl gagged with a towel and set afire. The couple was soon nabbed and handed over to the police, he added.
According to police, the charred body had been recovered and the accused produced in a local court here. A forensic team was to start its investigation to gather evidence against the accused.
“Investigation is on to ascertain the motive,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh.