Delhi: Armyman sets himself, wife on fire after argument, both critical

New Delhi: A 27-year-old armyman set himself and his wife on fire in Delhi by pouring petrol and lighting a match following a heated argument, police said Monday. The couple have been admitted to a hospital where their condition was critical.

"Jitendra Janmeda, a rifleman (with the Indian Army), had come to meet his wife Deepika Tomar at her house at RK Puram area in south Delhi. The incident took place around 9 am," said a senior police officer.

They had an argument over some family dispute before the incident, the officer said. After setting himself on fire, Janmeda put his arms around his wife's neck, so that they would die together.

Jitendra Janmeda, a rifleman with Indian Army, has received 90 percent burn injuries while his wife has 35 percent burn injuries.

Anil Kumar Tokas, 24, a neighbour said, "My mother informed me about the incident after noticing that smoke was coming out of Deepika's house." Tokas and his mother doused the fire by putting a blanket over the couple and rushed them to hospital in their car, police said.

The couple have been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, with Janmeda having 90 percent burn injuries and Deepika with 35 percent burn injuries. They had married June 27, 2012 but Deepika left her husband's house at Faridabad in Haryana October 3, 2012, following differences in their relationship.

According to police, Janmeda was depressed after Deepika had lodged a police complaint of dowry harassment against him. She has also given a complaint to Delhi Women's Commission. "Deepika's mother was at her house but she was in another room when the incident took place," the police officer added.

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