Representative Image

BAREILLY: A man along with five members of his family allegedly set his wife (22) and son (2) on fire in Badaun, UP, on Friday night . The woman and child died on Saturday. On a complaint by the woman's family, the police have lodged a case of dowry death and murder against the six accused.

The woman's parents alleged that her husband and his family were pressuring her to bring more dowry and began torturing her when she couldn't meet their demands.

The deceased's family further alleged that Saurabh and his five family members burnt Kajal and her son Rishi alive on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The woman and child were initially admitted to Badaun district hospital and were later referred to Bareilly district hospital. They succumbed to burn injuries in Bareilly on Saturday.

Indresh Kumar, station house officer, Dataganj police station, said, "We have lodged an FIR against Saurabh, his two brothers, his mother, his sister-in-law and his maternal grandmother under IPC sections 304 B (dowry death), 302 (murder), apart from relevant sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The bodies have been sent for postmortem in Bareilly. We are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action.''

Meanwhile, Saurabh claimed that Kajal committed suicide. "As my parents do not have a house of their own, we have been living in the house owned by my maternal grandmother. My wife and grandmother used to often quarrel. They fought on Friday night. After all family members went to sleep, Kajal burnt herself and our son.''

