Greater Noida man shot in leg during police encounter after setting wife on fire over dowry
NEW DELHI, AUG 24 : The man accused of setting his wife on fire over dowry, Vipin Bhati, was shot in the leg on Sunday while attempting to escape police custody, authorities said, reported PTI.
Vipin was arrested on Saturday after he was caught on video allegedly assaulting and dragging his wife, Nikki Bhati, by her hair inside a house in Greater Noida.
Speaking to NDTV on Sunday morning, Nikki’s father, Bhikari Singh Payla, said, “They are killers, they should be shot, their home razed. My daughter was bringing up her son by running a parlour. They tortured her. The whole family was involved in the conspiracy, and they killed my daughter.” His remarks came just hours before Vipin attempted to escape, prompting police to open fire.
Speaking to the media, Greater Noida Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Sudhir Kumar said the police had recovered bottles of thinner used to set Nikki on fire. He added that when Vipin tried to snatch an inspector’s pistol and flee, he attempted to fire at the police, who then shot him in self-defence. Vipin is currently undergoing treatment in hospital, while authorities continue questioning other family members allegedly involved in the crime.
From his hospital bed, Vipin told news agency ANI that he is not guilty of the crime. “I did not kill her. She died on her own,” he said. When asked about allegations of beating his wife, he added, “Husband and wife often have fights, it is very common…”
Meanwhile, Nikki’s family staged a protest outside Kasana Police Station, demanding justice. Her father alleged that her in-laws killed her over dowry demands. “Her mother-in-law poured kerosene while her husband set her on fire. They tortured my daughter for a car they demanded. I just married her as per tradition,” he said, also accusing Vipin of prolonged domestic violence.
He added that despite once bringing her home to escape the abuse, societal pressure forced her return, and the violence continued. Nikki suffered 70% burns and was pronounced dead at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. “These monsters didn’t think twice before killing my daughter. Both my daughters were married into the same family, and my grandson has recounted what happened. They should be hanged,” he said.
The 26-year-old woman was allegedly brutally assaulted and set ablaze by her husband and in-laws over a dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village. She succumbed to her injuries at Safdarjung Hospital on Friday. The incident reportedly took place in front of her young son and elder sister.
Noida ADCP Sudhir Kumar had earlier said, “On August 21, we received a call from Fortis Hospital about a woman admitted with burn injuries, who was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital. Unfortunately, she died before we could reach.”
Two disturbing videos of the incident are circulating online. In one, a man and a woman are seen assaulting Nikki and dragging her out of the house by her hair. In another, she can be seen limping down the stairs after being set ablaze.
Nikki’s six-year-old son, who witnessed the attack, told reporters, “Meri mumma ke upar kuch dala, fir unko chanta mara fir lighter se aag laga di” (They poured something on my mother, slapped her, and set her on fire with a lighter).
Her elder sister, Kanchan, who also lives in the same family after marrying Nikki’s brother-in-law, recorded parts of the incident. She alleged that the family killed Nikki for failing to meet a dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh. “On Thursday night, she was badly beaten up and set on fire by her husband Vipin and in-laws. We were tortured for many days over dowry. They hit her on her head and neck, threw acid, and carried out atrocities against my sister. I was also beaten and left unconscious,” she said, reported PTI.
Kanchan further alleged that the in-laws wanted Nikki out of the way so that Vipin could remarry.
Nikki, who was married to Vipin in 2016, is survived by her young son.
-PTI
