Woman Forced To Drink Gasoline, Set Ablaze By Husband For Not Giving Him $1.34

An Indian man has been accused of forcing his wife to drink gasoline and setting her on fire after the victim reportedly refused to give him US$1.34 (100 Indian rupees) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India on July 19.

On the night of July 19, the husband, Govind Khatik, reportedly came home and asked his wife, Madhavi Khatik, to give him 100 Indian rupees. However, when Madhavi refused to give him the money, Khatik went into a blind rage and allegedly forced the victim to drink gasoline before pouring gasoline all over the woman, and subsequently setting her on fire, according to the Free Press Journal.

Madhavi, 23, who was reportedly found covered in burns all over her body, sought help from her sister-in-law Ratna and was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment. After fighting for her life for seven days, Madhavi succumbed to her serious burns on Monday, July 26, Amar Singh Sikarwar, Bahorapur Police Station In-Charge confirmed.

The couple had reportedly been married for four years. Khatik has been arrested for attempted murder and sent to jail.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a 20-year-old woman was allegedly doused with gasoline and set ablaze by her lover's younger brother in Uttar Pradesh, India on Monday, July 12, Latin Times reported.

The accused, a brick kiln worker identified only as Pawan, was reportedly against his elder brother’s relationship with the victim. On the day of the incident, Pawan called the victim, who hailed from the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, to his home located in the victim's neighborhood and allegedly doused her with gasoline, set her ablaze, and fled the scene.

Neighbors who were alarmed by the woman’s screams came rushing to the home to see what was going on and found the woman battling for her life. The neighbors immediately rushed the victim to a district medical facility for treatment. The victim reportedly suffered 40% burns on her body and died the following day from her injuries.

Pawan has been arrested by authorities. Meanwhile, the case is still under investigation since some witnesses have assured Pawan’s presence at the brick kiln at the time of the incident, Santosh Kumar Singh, Bulandshahr Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) stated.