A horrific murder has been reported from Jagatpur village in the Chhibramau area of Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. A woman named Sonam was allegedly tied to a chair by her husband, doused with petrol and set on fire. The incident took place around 7 am on Thursday. According to the initial information, the husband suspected that his wife was having an affair with another man. After setting the house on fire, he allegedly fled with their two children. The victim's body was reduced to a skeleton, which firefighters found after bringing the blaze under control.
Firefighters Find Woman's Remains
The incident came to light after residents noticed huge flames coming out of the house. They rushed to the spot and informed the police and fire brigade. Firefighters struggled for around one and a half hours before bringing the fire under control. When they entered the house, they found Sonam's remains. The incident took place around 40 kilometres from the Kannauj district headquarters. Police reached the village and inspected the scene. The discovery of the woman's remains has shocked local residents.
Couple Had a Love Marriage
According to information shared by villagers, Sukhbir Singh alias Monu had married Sonam 11 years ago. The couple had two children, a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. They reportedly met while working in Hisar, Haryana, where Sukhbir had been employed in a private job for around 14 years. Sonam was also working in the city and originally belonged to Shikohabad. After falling in love, the two got married and initially lived in Hisar.
Suspicion Led to Frequent Disputes
Villagers said Sukhbir had started suspecting his wife of having an affair around four years ago. The couple reportedly argued frequently over the issue. After further disputes, Sukhbir brought Sonam to their village. However, villagers claimed that he later began suspecting her of having a relationship with a local man. Sukhbir had returned to the village two days before the incident for the Diwali holidays. A fresh argument reportedly took place, and the matter reached the Sikandarpur police outpost.
Petrol Brought Before the Attack
According to the account given by villagers, Sukhbir left the house in anger on Thursday morning and returned around half an hour later with petrol in a bottle. He allegedly tied Sonam to a chair, poured petrol on her and set her on fire before fleeing. His uncle Jitendra reportedly confirmed that his nephew had committed the crime and left with the children. He said Sonam was screaming for help, but the flames were so intense that nobody could enter the house to rescue her.
Police Launch Search for Husband
Chhibramau police station in-charge Kapil Dubey said the woman was tied up and set on fire by her husband. Initial investigation has indicated that suspicion over her character may have led to the dispute. Police also confirmed that a complaint had been made at the local police outpost following an argument two days earlier. The accused is currently absconding, and police teams are conducting raids to arrest him. Officers are also questioning people in the surrounding area as part of the investigation.
