Mother/sister in-law arrested on charge of setting fire on woman

By Baburam Devkota, Sindhuali, Dec 23: The police have arrested mother-in-law and sister-in-law of a woman, Sushila Bamjan, who died due to burning, in suspicion of their involvement in the murder case.

A resident of Kamalamai Munucipality-4, Dhuraphant, Sushila, 32, died due to burning on Sunday at her home.

The District Police Office, Sindhuli, issued a press statement on Tuesday stating that it has arrested deceased Sushila’s 59-year-old mother-in-law, Mayarani Bamjan, and 35-year-old sister-in-law, Meena Lama (Bamjan), on suspicion of their involvement in the incident and has initiated further investigation.

Following the arrests, local people exerted pressure on the police demanding justice.

According to the police statement, the two arrested women allegedly poured petrol on the victim’s body and set her on fire in the kitchen of the house at around 4:30 pm on Sunday (21 December), killing her.

On Tuesday, the relatives of the deceased and local people demanded justice for Sushila, calling for an impartial investigation into the incident and strict action against the culprits.

Locals reported that after petrol was poured on Sushila and she was set on fire, she screamed for help. When neighbours rushed to the house after hearing her cries, they found the main gate locked, the room on fire, sister-in-law Meena standing in the lane outside the house, and flames burning fiercely inside.

According to locals, Sushila had been subjected to continuous mental and physical abuse by her father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law for more than five years on various pretexts. It has also come to light that over the past two months, sister-in-law Meena had repeatedly threatened to kill Sushila if she did not leave the house. The deceased Sushila’s husband, Surya Bamjan, is currently in South Korea for foreign employment.