A woman was allegedly burnt to death at her marital house in central Kolkata for not bringing sufficient dowry.
Victim Nazia's husband was arrested even as her family accused police of inaction in the past on their complaints due to his contacts.
"Police was informed after the woman with severe burn injuries was admitted in the Chittaranjan Hospital in Park Circus," Debabrata Sarkar, Inspector of Tiljala police station, said.
Nazia's family said she was also a victim of domestic violence and accused her husband of extramarital affairs.
"I can't imagine how she was brutally tortured. Her hair were plucked and clothes were torn. Smoke was still emanating from her body when we took her to hospital on Friday night," her mother lamented.
The family alleged police did not act on their complaints in the past since Nazia's husband had influential connections.
"We lodged complaints of domestic violence at Beniapukur and Tiljala police stations earlier but no action was taken," said a relative of Nazia.
Her relatives and agitated locals blocked a road near Park Circus bridge no. 4 in protest, following which police intervened to remove the blockade.
Police arrested her husband Abdul Afaqut Alias Rinku and recorded the statements of her other in-laws about the incident.
"The accused has been charged with murder," the police said.
