Two die as man sets in-laws’ house ablaze in Bihar's Araria

PATNA: Two members of a family were burnt to death and two others suffered serious burn injuries when a close relative allegedly set their house on fire at Hasanpur Nayatola village under Palasi police station area in Araria district early Friday morning.
Palasi police station SHO Shiv Pujan Kumar said one Md Muhtessem visited his in-laws’ house at around 2am and set it ablaze, causing severe burn injuries to his father-in-law, mother-in-law and their two children.The villagers had spotted the accused and his accomplices carrying a plastic container, but didn’t intervene. The accused managed to escape after setting the house aflame.
Muhteseem’s mother-in-law Marzeena (45) and her son Abuzar (10) died on way to the hospital. His father-in-law Md Irshad (50) and sister-in-law Shaista (12) were undergoing treatment at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Bhagalpur. The villagers told the police that Irshad’s son-in-law Muhtessem was involved in the crime.
The SHO said marital dispute was stated to be the reason behind the incident. Muhtessem, a resident of Farsadangi village in Araria district, had pronounced triple talaq on his wife Nanhi Begum about a fortnight ago following an altercation. But, later, he was insisting on taking his wife back, probably apprehending trouble over the triple talaq issue. Irshad, However, did not allow him to take her back and sent his daughter to a relative’s place.
Nanhi was married to Muhtessem about two years ago. Police said Muhtessem was absconding after the incident.
Araria Sadar SDPO Pushkar Kumar said a special police team had been set up to crack the case. “Irshad had sent his daughter to his relative’s house after the divorce, which might have enraged his son-in-law who committed the crime,” he told this newspaper over phone.
The residents said Irshad had submitted a petition to the local police station apprehending an attack on the family after the divorce issue. They blamed the police inaction for the gory incident in which two people died and two others suffered burn injuries.