A 25-year-old man was allegedly set ablaze by his stepmother for enquiring about his father, the police said.
The incident was reported in East Delhi’s Welcome area late on Friday evening. The victim, identified as Faeem, who drives an autorickshaw for a living, sustained 65 per cent burns, and is currently undergoing treatment.
“He stays with his mother Sanjeeda in Ghaziabad. His father, Ilyas recently deserted both of them, married a woman named Rani, and has been staying with her in the area since,” said a senior police officer.
On Friday, Faeem, his mother, and a friend visited Rani’s home around 11.30 p.m. to meet Ilyas. They were met by Rani who told them that he was away.
“My mother asked Rani about my father upon which she lost her cool and began fighting with my mother and abusing her. She alleged that we were troubling her by repeatedly asking my father to return to our home,” Faeem told the police in his complaint. When Faeem confronted her, Rani allegedly rushed inside and returned with a can containing a combustible liquid and doused him with it before lighting a match and throwing it at him.
Faeem’s friend tore his clothes and wrapped him with these to save him. Faeem was rushed to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital in Dilshad Garden where he was shifted to the ICU.
“ Efforts to track down Rani, who is absconding , are under way,” the officer added.
