123 Kolkata: A 19-year-old pregnant woman and her seven-year-old brother died after they were set ablaze at their residence at Sree Colony in Netaji Nagar, police said on Tuesday. The incident was reported on April 10 around 12.15 pm, when Namita Basak was found in a burnt condition at her ground-floor residence. Her brother, Shiva, who also sustained burns, died at MR Bangur Hospital during treatment.
"The prime suspect, Swapan Basak, is the deceased's maternal grandfather. He was arrested from Raiganj on April 14. Investigation revealed the motive was linked to the accused's illicit advances toward the victim's mother," said Rupesh Kumar, joint CP (crime & traffic). Police said Namita was declared dead at Baghajatin State General Hospital at 12.50 pm. Her husband, Sachin Kumar Das (21), filed a complaint against Swapan and others at Netaji Nagar police station.
Namita married Das a little more than a year ago. Police sources said there was a previous dispute between the victim's mother and maternal grandfather, which had led to an altercation in Raiganj before the incident. "Swapan entered into a criminal conspiracy with others and came to Sree Colony, and killed Namita by setting her ablaze. This also caused the death of her unborn child in her womb. The accused also attempted to murder the minor brother-in-law of the complainant, namely Shiva Basak, by setting him ablaze too. Shiva was admitted to Bangur Hospital, where he died sometime later," said joint CP Kumar.
"Swapan was making multiple advances at Namita's mother in Raiganj, which increased after Namita's marriage. Namita then brought her brother with her to ensure his safety. She might not have expected that Swapan would come to Kolkata to kill them when Sachin was absent from home," an officer said.
According to police, neighbours reported smelling smoke from the residence on April 10. They found Namita unconscious in a room with her brother. Neighbours took the boy to hospital before cops arrived.
"We recorded Shiva's statement under court direction before his death. His dying statement is the evidence in this case. We are examining witnesses and collecting CCTV footage," Kumar said.
The accused was produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, and remanded in police custody until April 28. Cops have registered the case under BNS sections 103 (murder), 92 (6) causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and 109 (attempt to murder).
"We are pursuing leads to determine the identity of others who were involved in the conspiracy," Kumar said.
Kolkata: A 19-year-old pregnant woman and her seven-year-old brother died after they were set ablaze at their residence at Sree Colony in Netaji Nagar, police said on Tuesday. The incident was reported on April 10 around 12.15 pm, when Namita Basak was found in a burnt condition at her ground-floor residence. Her brother, Shiva, who also sustained burns, died at MR Bangur Hospital during treatment.
"The prime suspect, Swapan Basak, is the deceased's maternal grandfather. He was arrested from Raiganj on April 14. Investigation revealed the motive was linked to the accused's illicit advances toward the victim's mother," said Rupesh Kumar, joint CP (crime & traffic). Police said Namita was declared dead at Baghajatin State General Hospital at 12.50 pm. Her husband, Sachin Kumar Das (21), filed a complaint against Swapan and others at Netaji Nagar police station.
Namita married Das a little more than a year ago. Police sources said there was a previous dispute between the victim's mother and maternal grandfather, which had led to an altercation in Raiganj before the incident. "Swapan entered into a criminal conspiracy with others and came to Sree Colony, and killed Namita by setting her ablaze. This also caused the death of her unborn child in her womb. The accused also attempted to murder the minor brother-in-law of the complainant, namely Shiva Basak, by setting him ablaze too. Shiva was admitted to Bangur Hospital, where he died sometime later," said joint CP Kumar.
"Swapan was making multiple advances at Namita's mother in Raiganj, which increased after Namita's marriage. Namita then brought her brother with her to ensure his safety. She might not have expected that Swapan would come to Kolkata to kill them when Sachin was absent from home," an officer said.
According to police, neighbours reported smelling smoke from the residence on April 10. They found Namita unconscious in a room with her brother. Neighbours took the boy to hospital before cops arrived.
"We recorded Shiva's statement under court direction before his death. His dying statement is the evidence in this case. We are examining witnesses and collecting CCTV footage," Kumar said.
The accused was produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, and remanded in police custody until April 28. Cops have registered the case under BNS sections 103 (murder), 92 (6) causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and 109 (attempt to murder).
"We are pursuing leads to determine the identity of others who were involved in the conspiracy," Kumar said.