"Record second statement," plead brothers of Bhiwandi burn victim

The brothers of Shobha Gawale, who was set ablaze by her husband Vijay for not being able to bear him a child, are demanding that the police take her second statement.

Shobha's brothers: (Left to right) Kailash, Dhyneshwar, Vilas and Nandev

"In an unconscious state, she could only speak of domestic violence but couldn't say anything of dowry harassment," said 36-year-old Dhyneshwar Gaikwad, her elder brother.

Also Read: Mumbai Crime: Man sets wife ablaze for being 'barren'

The 26-year-old woman, a resident of Bhiwandi, who is now undergoing treatment at Thane Civil Hospital, has suffered 77 per cent burns on her face, back, legs, stomach and neck. In her statement, she had said that her husband set her on fire because she was unable to bear him a child after seven years of marriage.

Vijay Gawale

Her family is desperately pleading with the police to take her statement again, but the police aren't paying any heed. The brothers fear that given Shobha's condition, it might be too late before Vijay is booked for dowry harassment.

Shobha Gawale

"Several times, we have provided money to her drunkard husband as he used to torture her. Her sister-in-law who stays nearby also hit her," said Kailash Gaikwad, 26, another brother. Interestingly, Vijay's sister got him arrested after he hit Shobha with a stone slab.

The brothers have also submitted the statement twice, but the police refused to accept it and no police officer was sent to the hospital to record her second statement, allege Shobha's family.

Assistant inspector of Narpoli police station, Arun Kshir Sagar said, "I don't understand what extra accusations do they want to impose on him. We have already imposed charges of half murder on him, which is enough."

Police arrested Vijay on Saturday night under section 307 (attempt to murder).