Woman Dies After Neighbor Allegedly Sets Her On Fire Over Relationship With His Brother

A 20-year-old woman who was allegedly set ablaze by her neighbor died Tuesday. The accused was reportedly upset because the woman was in a relationship with his elder brother.

The unidentified woman, from Bulandshahr district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, suffered 40% burns after she was reportedly doused in petrol and set on fire by her neighbor Monday. Police later arrested the suspect, identified as Pawan.

Police said Pawan, who works in a brick kiln, called the victim to his courtyard and poured petrol on her before setting her aflame. He fled the scene after the incident, The Times of India reported.

The woman was critically injured and was rushed to a hospital after neighbors heard her screams. She succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in New Delhi, which is around 80 miles from her hometown.

Based on a statement she gave at the hospital, police registered a case against Pawan and took him into custody. The woman told police she was in a relationship with Pawan's elder brother. Pawan was against the affair.

"The woman in her statement has alleged that Pawan did not like her relationship with his elder brother. He called her to his house. As soon as she entered, he poured petrol on her and set her on fire. Based on her statement we have arrested the accused," said Santosh Kumar Singh, Bulandshahr senior superintendent of police.

However, Pawan's co-workers claimed that he was with them at the time of the incident. Police said they were investigating the exact sequence of events.

A 20-year-old woman in India was reportedly set ablaze last month by her parents and her brother after she refused to marry the man of their choice. The victim, identified as Tazim from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was doused in petrol and set on fire after she told her family that she was in love with another man. Police registered a case of attempted murder against the parents and brother.