A 25-year-old woman was allegedly burned to death by her husband over dowry disputes at Nandigaon under Jarada police station limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district today, the police said.
The deceased was identified as Sapna Nayak, wife of Bairagi Nayak, a daily labourer.
The mother of the deceased S Radhika of Totipur lodged a compliant alleging that her daughter was set ablaze for dowry, the police said.
The woman suffered around 90 per cent burn injuries and was rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, they added.
“Her husband tortured her for dowry since her marriage about two years ago. We suspect that her husband poured kerosene and set her on fire,” Radhika said in her complaint.
The husband of the deceased, however, refuted the allegations and claimed his wife had committed suicide.
“I also sustained injuries while trying to save her,” he told the police during interrogation.
Bairagi, with 15 per cent burn injuries, was admitted to the medical college and hospital.
“He is now under police custody,” said Sujit Kumar Nayak, Inspector in-charge of Jarada police station adding, the forensic team of the police was also investigating the case.