RAJBIRAJ, FEBRUARY 6

A woman, who was undergoing treatment after her brother-in-law set fire to her body and tried to burn her alive, died in Biratnagar today.

Raj Kumari Sah, 27, of Dhangadi in Bodebarsain Municipality, died while undergoing treatment in Biratnagar.

Sah's brother-in-law Parmeswor Sah had sprinkled petrol on Raj Kumari's body and set her on fire on February 4. According to the deceased's husband Rabin Kumar, his brother Parmeswor had sprinkled petrol on Raj Kumari's body and set fire to it while she was cooking food on February 4.

Raj Kumari was carrying her daughter when the incident happened. When her body was set on fire, she had thrown her daughter away, and she too has received burn injuries on her back and legs. The daughter is being treated at a local primary health centre, said Rabin Kumar.

Raj Kumari, who received burns all over her body, was sent to Kalyanpur-based Primary Health Centre and then to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, for treatment. She was taken to Max Hospital, Biratnagar, after she could not be treated at BP- KIHS as well. Rabin Kumar said Parmeswor had set fire to Raj Kumari's body while he was away from home.

Police have launched a manhunt to nab the absconding Parmeswor Sah, said DSP Madhav Prasad Kafle of District Police Office, Saptari. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

The post-mortem was conducted at Koshi Hospital Biratnagar today itself. 'Family members and locals are preparing to take the body to the village,' said police.

Woman's brother-in-law had set fire to her body on February 4

A version of this article appears in the print on February 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.