Man Sets In-Laws On Fire After Split With Wife: Police

A 29-year-old businessman in the Indian state of Telangana allegedly set his in-laws on fire over the weekend after his estranged wife left him, police said.

Sai Krishna barged into his in-laws' apartment in Hyderabad's Kukatpally Housing Board Colony (KPHB) Saturday night, The Times of India reported, citing police. He then doused the couple with gasoline and set them ablaze, police alleged.

Neighbors who heard the screaming took the victims to a nearby private hospital.

The two victims, identified as 54-year-old farmer T. Sagar Rao and his 50-year-old wife T. Rama, suffered severe burn injuries.

"While Sagar Rao suffered about 50% burns on his legs and back, Rama suffered about 30% burns on her legs and hands," KPHB inspector S. Laxmi Narayana was quoted as saying by the outlet.

Krishna, a real estate businessman from the city of Karimnagar, also suffered burns in the incident.

Krishna's 29-year-old wife, T. Neethika, moved into her parents' Sri Sai Brundhavan Apartment residence when differences cropped up between her and her husband a year after they got married in 2016, according to the report.

"On Saturday night, Krishna barged into his in-laws' flat with a petrol bottle in hand. Neethika thought he was carrying acid in the bottle and locked herself in the bedroom," the inspector stated.

After allegedly setting his in-laws ablaze, Krishna fled the scene and later went to a private hospital in his home city for treatment. Police said he is out of danger and will be arrested once he is released from the hospital.

Police have registered an attempted murder case against Krishna over the incident. KPHB cops also registered a domestic harassment case against him based on a complaint from his estranged wife that is now in court.

A similar incident happened in Kerala, India, in June. A 28-year-old woman died after her live-in partner set her on fire during an argument over a social media post.

The woman, identified as Athira, was doused with kerosene by her 30-year-old partner, Shanavaz, during a dispute between the couple on June 9, her family claimed. Shanavaz then allegedly set his partner on fire with a lighter.

Both Athira and Shanavaz were taken to a local hospital, where the former died the following morning. Shanavaz also sustained burn injuries from the incident.