50-year-old man held after wife sets herself ablaze

Satyabhama, 45, a resident of Belapur set herself on fire on Friday and has suffered 92% burns. The victim, blazed herself following a huge fight with her husband Maruti Vitkar, 50. He allegedly used to harass her, fight with her, assault her and demanded money to satiate his drinking habits.

"The couple has a daughter who got married a couple of years ago. The accused did not have any a permanent source of income and he used to drink almost everyday. He assaulted his wife whenever she refused to give him money to drink," said Avinash Mane, police sub-inspector from NRI police station.

The couple had a fight on Friday evening following which Vitakra again assaulted his wife. "Exasperated with such frequent tortures, Satyabhama poured kerosene on herself and set herself on fire. She suffered 92% burns and is now recuperating at NMMC hospital in Vashi," added Mane.

The police have booked the accused under sections 498a of the Indian Penal Code. "No criminal records of the accused have been found so far. We have also not been able to take the victim's statement properly as she is undergoing treatment in the hospital."

According to the sources from Navi Mumbai crime branch, dowry harassment and abatement in suicide cases have gone up in the city by 50% in 2013. The police are of the opinion that most of these dowry harassment accused belong to middle class and lower middle class families.