In Greater Noida's Sirsa village, a 26-year-old woman named Nikki was allegedly murdered by her husband and in-laws due to dowry demands, after nine years of marriage. The horrific incident, which occurred in front of her seven-year-old son and elder sister, highlights the persistent issue of dowry-related violence in India.
Nikki's sister, Kanchan, who is married into the same family, reported that the abuse began shortly after their weddings in 2016. According to Kanchan, the family subjected Nikki to continuous torture, and they assaulted her even when she tried to intervene. She also alleged that the in-laws wanted Nikki dead so that Vipin could remarry.
The abuse escalated, culminating in Nikki being brutally assaulted and set ablaze. Nikki's six-year-old son recounted the horrific event, stating that they poured something on his mother, slapped her, and set her on fire with a lighter. Two disturbing videos have surfaced, one showing Nikki being assaulted and dragged by her hair, and another capturing her limping after being set on fire.
Nikki's father revealed that the family had already met previous dowry demands, including a Scorpio car and a Bullet bike. However, the in-laws allegedly demanded an additional ₹36 lakh. Kanchan stated that on the night of August 21, Nikki was badly beaten and set on fire by her husband, Vipin, and his family. She further alleged that they hit Nikki on the head and neck and threw acid on her.
Nikki was rushed to Fortis Hospital with severe burns and later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, but she died en route. Police have registered a case based on Kanchan's complaint. Nikki's husband, Vipin, has been arrested, while authorities are searching for the other accused, including her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brother-in-law.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Sudhir Kumar stated that they received information about a woman admitted with severe burn injuries and confirmed that an FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal conspiracy. While dowry harassment charges have not yet been added to the FIR, further investigation is underway.
This incident underscores the ongoing problem of dowry-related violence in India, where thousands of women are killed annually due to dowry disputes. Nikki's death serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address this issue and protect women from such atrocities.