32-YO Man Set On Fire For Not Offering Gutkha To Friends In Mathura

A 32-year-old man was allegedly set on fire by two men in Sapoha village in Mathura, on Friday, after he refused to share a packet of gutkha with them. However, police have not ruled out possibilities of the victim indulging in an act of self-immolation.

According to victim¡¯s brother, Vishambhar, Pardesi (who goes by his first name) went to buy something at a general store, where the two men, Raju and Rahul Thakur allegedly attacked him, when he refused to share gutkha with them.

They allegedly poured kerosene over him and set him on fire.

On seeing the flames, locals gathered there and immediately took him to the hospital. The victim sustained 20 per cent burns on the lower part of his body and is undergoing treatment at a district hospital in Mathura.

Station house officer, Highway police station Mathura, Udaiveer said that a case has been registered under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC as well as sections of SC/ST Act against the accused, who are from the same village. However, no arrests have been arrested so far, said the police officer, adding that further investigations are on.

TOI

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that Pardesi poured kerosene on himself and lit the fire after Rahul slapped him following the altercation between them over the packet of Gutkha.

It is alleged that Pardesi immediately went to his house and poured kerosene over his body and came to a nearby halwai shop and set himself afire.