Dowry victim fighting for life

A teenage housewife who suffered serious burn injuries allegedly as her husband and in-laws set her on fire four days ago, is fighting for life at hospital.
The victim was identified as Alee Begum, 19, wife of Nasir Uddin of Roykhail village in Dakkhin Surma upazila and daughter of Abdul Haque of Alinagar in Beanibazar upazila.
With 80 percent burn injuries, Alee is now undergoing treatment at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Police and family sources said Nasir, with the help of his family members, abducted Alee and married her six months ago. Nasir had earlier married another girl and divorced her, they said.
A drug addict and gambler, Nasir had been demanding Tk 2 lakh from Alee's parents as dowry since their marriage. As her family could not meet the dowry demand, Nasir and his family members started torturing Alee, locals said.
Over the issue, Alee had an altercation with her husband and in-laws on the night of August 2. At one stage, Nasir and his family members assaulted her, poured kerosene over her body and set her afire in an attempt to kill her.
Hearing her screams, locals rushed in and rescued her in a critical condition. They took her to the hospital where she is now fighting for life.
Meanwhile, victim's mother Hosna Begum filed an attempt-to-murder case with Mogla Bazar police station accusing six people, including Nasir, in this connection.
The other accused are Nasir's brother Jewel, 25, their mother Phul Bibi, 65, sister Gharuj Begum, 36, and uncles Jamal, 32, and Kamal, 28.
Police are yet to arrest any of the accused.