Gangtok, Jun 24: A man was arrested on the charge of murdering his wife, who died due to burns in Namchi district of south Sikkim, police said on Wednesday.
He was apprehended after medical and forensic findings contradicted his account of how she sustained the burn injuries.
The 44-year-old woman died on June 22, and her husband was arrested the next day, police said.
“During the course of investigation, material evidence emerged indicating the involvement of the husband in the death of the deceased. His conduct and statements were found to be misleading and contradictory,” a police officer said.
An inquest revealed multiple burn injuries across the victim’s body, including her neck, hands, legs, thighs, abdomen and back. Investigators also recovered partially burnt clothing, including a shirt and pants believed to belong to the deceased, from outside the residence.
Police said the post-mortem examination found the preliminary cause of death to be pulmonary oedema resulting from burn injuries caused by hot liquid.
During questioning, her husband reportedly told investigators that his wife had accidentally poured hot water on herself inside her bedroom on the night of June 20 and sustained burn injuries, and she on the morning of June 22.
However, medical findings cast doubt on that version.
“The doctor who conducted the post-mortem stated that the burn injuries were fresh and had been inflicted shortly before death on the morning of June 22. This directly contradicted the account provided by the husband,” a police official said.
Investigators further stated that medical experts found the pattern and distribution of the burns inconsistent with accidental injuries, self-infliction or suicide.
Based on the medical evidence, forensic observations and contradictions in the accused’s statements, police concluded there were sufficient grounds to suspect that the victim had been intentionally killed and that efforts had been made to conceal evidence and mislead investigators.
Police said that the husband was arrested on Tuesday and a court remanded him to police custody.
Following completion of the autopsy, the body was handed over to family members for the last rites. (PTI)
