A day after three people were arrested on charges of setting a 65-year-old woman on fire for allegedly not voting for Chhagan Bhujbal on October 15, contradicting versions of the incident cropped up on Saturday. The woman also changed her statement, said the cops.
A resident of Babhulgaon near Yeola in Nashik district, Zelubai Wabale, who sustained 80% burns, had told the police that Ashok Bornare, Pandurang Bornare and Nandkishor Bhurak of her village attacked her for not pressing option No.3 (Shiv Sena) on the EVM.
However, Zelubai's son and daughter provided a different account of the alleged crime, said the police. The siblings have told the police that Zelubai's saree caught fire when she was trying to shift an utensil from the stove. In fact, the alleged attackers were the people who rushed to help her, they told the cops.
Sources in Nashik police said they found torn pieces of a burnt saree at the kitchen and veranda of Zelubai's house. While there were cans of kerosene there, none was empty, they said. Zelubai has alleged that the trio poured kerosene from one of the cans on her and set her on fire.
"Nobody has seen Zelubai being set on fire. Preliminary investigations suggest that the three accused do not have any affiliation with any party," said Inspector Ranjit Dere.
Superintendent of Police Nashik, Sanjay Mohite, said they were yet to come across any evidence that supported Zelubai's version of the incident. He said the accused are not politically connected.
Mohite said a neighbour first saw Zelubai coming out her house screaming, but what she saw doesn't indicate any kind of foul play. "We are exploring all angles, but haven't found anything concrete."
The senior officer said while Zelubai first said three people attacked her, later, she told the magistrate that 10-12 unknown people set her on fire.
In Babhulgaon, villagers offered a completely different story. "She lives alone in a house that has a tin roof. Even if a cat ran on it, she would feel someone was pelting stones," said a villager. The accused live close to her house and she would shout at them saying they were throwing stones, he said, adding that their village of 1,500 people has a harmonious atmosphere.
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