The Greater Noida police on Monday arrested the father-in-law and brother-in-law of Nikki Bhati, the 28-year-old woman who was allegedly beaten and set ablaze by her in-laws at their house over demands for dowry.
Satveer Bhati and his son Rohit Bhati were on the run since Nikki’s death. They were nabbed from the Sirsa toll gate following a tip-off, said an officer. Nikki’s husband, Vipin Bhati, was arrested on Saturday and shot in the leg on Sunday during an alleged attempt to escape police custody. The same day, the police arrested Vipin’s mother, Daya Bhati.
All four have been booked under Sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 61(2) (attempt to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment ) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Nikki was allegedly beaten and then set on fire by her husband and in-laws at their home in Sirsa village in Greater Noida on the night of August 21.
She suffered 70% burn injuries and died at Safdarjung Hospital a day later.
In her complaint to the police, the deceased’s sister, Kanchan, who is married to Mr. Rohit, has alleged that Nikki faced years of torture and escalating dowry demands since her marriage in 2016.
NCW seeks swift action
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday demanded a time-bound probe and strict action against the culprits.
“It is deeply disturbing that even after 75 years of Independence, our daughters are still falling victim to the evil of dowry,” said the commission.
