A woman was allegedly set on fire by her mother-in-law and three sisters-in-law at Balisuan village under the Marshaghai police limits in Kendrapada district on Sunday night.
Bharati Swain succumbed to his burn injuries while undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack on Monday.
Sources said Bharati of Badapala village in the district had married one Nirmal Swain, son of Nisamani Swain of Balisuan village. It was alleged that her in-laws used to torture her both physically and mentally for dowry.
In her dying declaration, Bharati said her mother-in-law and three sisters-in-law tied her hands, gagged her mouth and set her on fire in her room while her husband was away. Two rooms in the house were completely gutted in the fire. Though locals rushed her to the SCB Medical in a critical condition, she succumbed to her injuries.
Meanwhile, police detained Bharati’s four accused in-laws for interrogation and began an investigation into the incident.
“Two cases, including attempt to murder and dowry torture, have been filed in connection with the incident. Police along with a scientific team will investigate the incident and action will be taken against the persons to be found guilty,” said a police official of the Marshaghai police station minutes before the death of the woman.