In a sudden turn of events in the dowry killing case, the accused husband was shot at during an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police near the Sirsa Chowk in Greater Noida on Sunday afternoon. The accused husband, Vipin, was trying to escape while he was being taken for medical examination by snatching a pistol from a police personnel, but was shot in the leg.
He has been admitted to a hospital.
Vipin, along with his family members, set his wife, Nikki, ablaze on Thursday in front of their six-year-old son after brutally assaulting her. While Vipin was arrested on Saturday, a hunt is underway to apprehend the remaining accused.
The police, however, said Vipin is supporting the officials during the investigation. Notably, Vipin, in a social media, post has tried to imply that his wife died by suicide. "...I have no remorse. I haven't killed her. She died on her own. Husband and wife often have fights, it is very common," he told news agency ANI after being shot at by police.
Nikki's father wants accused to be shot
Following the brutal killing of her daughter, Nikki's father, Bhikari Singh Payla, demanded that all the accused must be shot dead, and their houses must be demolished. He alleged that his daughter was tortured for dowry by her in-laws, and Vipin's entire family is involved in her murder.
"My daughter did not want to trouble me, so she tried her best to make the marriage work. But they killed her — they are murderers," he said, while alleging that Vipin was also in an extramarital relationship.
'My mother dragged by hair, set on fire'
Nikki was burnt alive in front of her six-year-old son, who later described the incident. He said Nikki's in-laws poured something on her before setting her on fire using a lighter.
Two videos of the incidents are also being shared on social media, in which Nikki, who married Vipin in 2016, could be seen getting dragged by her in-laws before she was killed.
The police have registered a first information report (FIR), and Nikki's parents have performed her last rites after the officials conducted her post-mortem.
