Woman set on fire by in-laws

Imran told police his mother and sisters had responded to Rukshana’s ‘taunts’.

MULTAN:

A 24-year-old woman was set on fire by her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law on Sunday.

Rukhasana married Tariqabad resident Imran six years ago. She had a thorny relationship with her in-laws and recently had several scuffles with her sisters-in-law and on Sunday, after a harsh exchange of words they attacked her. According to the police, Imran’s sisters Shehla and Saima beat Rukhsana on Sunday and her mother-in-law grabbed her by her hair as the women poured kerosene oil on her. The women lit Rukhsana on fire and neighbours eventually intervened and took her to Nishtar Hospital. Nishtar Hospital doctors said that Rukhsana was currently in the burns unit with her family. “She has suffered third degree burns to 40 per cent of her body. She is out of danger and we have begun her treatment,” Dr Zafar Alvi said. “She has suffered severe burns to her face and it will take years for those to heal,” he said.  Gulgasht Police Station House Officer (SHO) Nasrullah Warraich has ensured that strict action will be taken against Imran’s family. “The girl’s father has submitted an application and we are conducting an investigation,” he said. Warraich said that Imran had told the police that Rukhsana had misbehaved with his family and they had retaliated to her repeated taunts. Police has lodged an FIR under The Terrorist Act under Section 788 and 324 against the mother-in- law of the victim after taking a statement from the victim.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th,  2011.