Mumbai, January 07: An argument over an illegal construction proved costly for a 35-year-old woman. Indrakali Somesh Gavde, a resident of Wagle Estate in Thane, was allegedly set ablaze by her neighbours on Wednesday night.
The Shreenagar police arrested Ramsamoj Raghurai Chauhan, 34 and his wife Savita, 32, on charges of attempt to murder. Gavde is battling for her life in a government hospital.
According to the police, Gavde’s son Rajesh was present in the house when the couple set her on fire.
“I was sleeping and my mother was preparing dinner,” said Rajesh. “I woke up with a start when Ramsamoj, his wife and few other people kicked open the door and forcibly entered our house.”
Rajesh said that even before he could react, one of them doused Gavde with kerosene and threw a lighted matchstick on her. “I somehow managed to douse the fire. With the help of other neighbours I took her to the civil hospital in Thane,” he said.
However, police believe that Gavde was attacked since she was objecting to an illegal constructions being carried out by the Chauhans.
“Chauhan was constructing another floor above his house which is adjacent to Gavde’s home,” an officer from Shreenagar police station said. “She was objecting to it saying that it was illegal. According to locals, Gavde had a fight with Chauhan a few hours before the incident.”
“We arrested the two suspects from their residence. We are carrying out further investigations,” said assistant inspector RJ Thackeray.
—-Agencies