Bihar: Blamed for missing child's death, woman burned alive

ARARIA: A woman, Sajni Devi (36), was burned to death by her villagers after the body of a 10-year-old boy was found at Belgachhi under Raniganj police station area in Araria district on Tuesday. The villagers suspected that she had lifted the child and killed him.

Prabhat Kumar, son of Subodh Chauhan, was missing since Monday night and his body was found under a heap of paddy straws next morning.

A local villager, on the condition of anonymity, said Sajni had illicit relationship with the boy’s father. “Subodh’s wife Shanti Devi used to say that Sajni will kill her son some day. Thus, when her son went missing and was later found dead, Sajni was attacked and burned to death,” he said. Sanjit Chauhan (40), the husband of Sajni, is a labourer.

Police also recovered the remains of Sajni’s charred body and lodged an FIR against the villagers. Subodh also lodged an FIR alleging that his son was killed by Sajni’s relatives. “Police have arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in burning the woman to death,” Raniganj police station SHO DP Yadav said.

He said the villagers responsible for burning Sajni to death did not allow anyone to save her while she was screaming for help.

A police team was camping in the village. Araria SDPO Kumar Devendra Singh said the guilty will not be spared.