Refused money for liquor, man sets family ablaze

BHOPAL: An alcoholic set ablaze his wife, two daughters and a son at the Madhya Pradesh's capital following an argument with his spouse over money for liquor, the police said on Tuesday. One daughter is dead, while the rest are in critical condition.

Mukesh Yadav, 35, set his family members ablaze on Monday night after an argument with his wife Geeta, 35, who refused to give him money to buy liquor.

"He poured kerosene over the woman and children, Sonu, 8, Tanu, 2, and Neetu, 11, and set them on fire. He too sustained burns while setting the victims ablaze," a police official said.

Hearing the cries of victims, Geeta's brother Shankar Dogre, who lives nearby, rushed them to hospital with the help of neighbours.

While two-year-old Tanu succumbed to injuries early on Tuesday, the conditions of the other two children as well as Geeta and Mukesh are critical. All have sustained more than 40 percent burns.