Greater Noida dowry murder: Accused shot while trying to flee police custody
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Greater Noida: Vipin Bhati, accused of killing his wife Nikki by assaulting and setting her on fire at their home in Greater Noida, was shot in the leg on Sunday when he attempted to escape police custody, officials said.
He was immediately admitted to hospital for treatment.
The case came to light on Thursday night after Fortis Hospital informed the police that a woman with severe burn injuries had been admitted. Doctors referred her to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, but she died on the way.
Police arrested Vipin following protests by Nikki’s family, who demanded strict action. His brother Rohit, mother Daya, and father Satveer are absconding. Earlier, Nikki’s father had told the media that he wanted all the accused to be shot.
According to officials, Vipin tried to escape by snatching a police officer’s pistol near Sirsa Chowk in Greater Noida. He was chased, and police opened fire, injuring him in the leg.
Nikki’s young son, who witnessed the crime, said he saw his father and grandmother thrash his mother before setting her ablaze with a lighter. “They first put something on mumma. Then they slapped her. After this, they set her on fire using a lighter,” he recounted.
Her sister Kanchan, also married into the same family, alleged Nikki was killed over an unfulfilled dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh. She claimed she had herself faced torture and beatings for dowry and had seen her sister being burnt alive. “I tried to save Nikki, but I couldn't... I want them to suffer the way they made my sister suffer,” she said.
Videos circulating on social media show Nikki being dragged by the hair and beaten by her husband and mother-in-law, and later sitting helplessly on the floor with severe burn injuries. Neighbors rushed her to hospital, but she could not be saved.