Five, including husband held for setting minor ablaze

The Rasayani police finally arrested five people on Thursday night, for allegedly setting a minor on fire, just after two months of her marriage. The victim's 22-year-old husband Dinesh Gaund, is also one of them.

According to the police, Rita Paswan, 17, was set on fire by her husband on March 12 in their house at Mohpada, near Panvel. She suffered 80% burns and 4 days later succumed to her burns at MGM hospital, Kamothe.

The police were not registering any case against the husband and his family; as they were unable to gather evidence against them, for nine days. However, based on circumstantial evidence, they finally registered the case. 

They made the arrests on Thursday after they received the postmortem reports from the hospital.

Dinesh and Rita, both residents of Ghatkopar had got married around two months ago. Since Rita's family did not agree to the marriage, the couple moved toMohpada and stayed there in a rented house.

Problems came to Rita's life just after her marriage. "Even Dinesh's family did not accept her and hence they forced him to torture her. Rita used to inform us about her plight over the phone," said Phoolchand Paswan, victim's uncle.

One of Rita's bothers also stayed at Mohpada near their house. "On March 12, when her brother went to her house, he heard her screams in a room that was bolted from inside. He broke open that room and saw that Rita was burning and Dinesh was sitting in a corner of that room. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mohpada and then to MGM hospital in Kamothe, where she died after four days," Phoolchand added.

RD Patil, senior police inspector of Rasayani police station (in charge) said, "After we found circumstantial evidences against the husband and his family, we arrested five members, including the husband, his parents, one uncle and one elder brother. 

The others have been identified as Rajendra Gaund, 50, Sangeeta, 42, Bablu, 40, and Rajesh, 25." The police have booked the accused under sections 498 (a), 305, 363 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code. They were presented before the judicial court on Friday afternoon.