In a horrendous case of domestic violence a man set his wife on fire in Niriang village under Thadlaskeiñ block in West Jaiñtia Hills district.
The incident which happened more than a month ago surfaced yesterday after a well-wisher visited the house to find out about her long absence from social places, only to discover the horrible truth that she was lying in her bed with severe burn injuries and no medical treatment.
The mother of six, who is in his mid 30s, her family was threatened with dire consequences if they informed the police.
After much probing and assurances she overcame her fears and revealed that her burn injuries were actually a result of her husband setting her on fire more than a month back.
According to sources, the survivor was earlier brought to Shillong Civil Hospital but her husband was discharged, who then took her back to the village, where he allegedly told her to keep silent or face the consequences.
It is learnt that her family (kur) were her sisters and her children and therefore were not in a position to face the challenges of a vicious husband and his equally violent mother, who allegedly threatened to ‘finish’ and also harm the children.
Sources said that at the first instance when she brought to the Shillong Civil Hospital, she was questioned about her burn injuries by the doctors. She had said that she had set herself on fire out of frustration with her relationship with her husband.
The question that arises is how and why the hospital authorities allowed the patient with serious burn injuries to be discharged and failed to register the patient as a Medico-Legal Case (MLC).
It is learnt that as soon as the matter was brought to the notice of the police by whistleblowers, they swung into action.
Till filing of this report, the FIR was yet to be filed. The Superintendent of Police Chemphang Syrti told Highland Post that they are taking steps to file the FIR against the husband and record the statement of the survivor.
Meanwhile the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission has also activated its official network for the protection of the survivor.
