Noida: The family of 26-year-old Nikki, who was allegedly tortured and set ablaze by her in-laws in Greater Noida, recalled a nine-year ordeal of harassment faced by both Nikki and her elder sister Kanchan (29). They spoke of frequent fights, physical assault, and rising demands for money and luxury cars.

“Their demands were increasing day by day... and they had started asking for Rs 36 lakh in dowry from us,” said the victim’s father, Bhikahri Singh.

He further revealed, “At wedding they demanded a Scorpio car. We gave them, and again they demanded a bullet motorcycle, which also we gave. Their demands were increasing day by day. And after that they began demanding Rs 36 lakh from us.”

“Both brother don’t work. Since marriage, they kept asking for money, sometimes they said give us your Mercedes, they asked for our Scorpio. I helped my daughter to open her own beauty parlour as Vipin had no work. He then started stealing money from the parlour,” Singh said.

Pointing to a Mercedes parked outside Singh’s house, another relative said, “Vipin had been demanding this car for over a year. He said either give the Mercedes or Rs 60 lakh.”

Nikki’s mother added, “They demanded a top model of Scorpio car. We told them we can only give Swift Dzire, still we gave the Scorpio and 30 tola gold (approximately 350 gram) at the wedding. When my daughters had children, we gave motorcycle and 11 tola gold (approximately 128 gram), they still tortured them. When we brought them back home, they held panchayat, pleaded us for their return.... still the abuse continued.”

“My daughter kept reassuring me that good days will come.. but they never did,” said the inconsolable mother, demanding strict action against the entire Bhati family.

How long had the abuse been going on?

In 2016, both sisters were married into the same family, Nikki to Vipin Bhati and Kanchan to Rohit Bhati.

According to the family, disputes were repeatedly taken to local panchayats, but no resolution was ever achieved.

“Many times a panchayat was organised to settle the dispute, but all the efforts were wasted,” Singh noted.

Nikki’s elder sister Kanchan, who also faced harassment, recorded a video of the fatal assault. She alleged that her brother-in-law Vipin Bhati and his family murdered Nikki for dowry.

“We were beaten and tortured for days. They were demanding Rs 36 lakh. They hit her on the neck and head, threw acid, and set her on fire in front of her child,” Kanchan told the media.

She further said, “They slapped me. I was injured and unconscious the entire day.” She alleged that her in-laws wanted Nikki to “go away” so that Vipin could remarry.

What happened on the day of the incident?

Disturbing videos and eyewitness testimonies have since surfaced. One clip shows Nikki, severely burnt, attempting to walk down a staircase before collapsing. She died from her injuries while being taken to hospital on Thursday night.

The victim’s six-year-old son, who saw the incident, said: “Meri mumma ke upar kuch dala, fir unko chanta mara fir lighter se aag laga di. (They poured something on my mother, slapped her and set her ablaze using a lighter).”

What action has police taken?

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhir Kumar said the first information about Nikki came from Fortis Hospital, which reported that a woman with burn injuries had been admitted and later referred to Safdarjung Hospital.

“Police immediately left for Safdarjung Hospital, but the woman succumbed to her injuries before the team could reach the hospital,” he explained.

Vipin Bhati was arrested on Saturday. However, according to Gautam Buddh Nagar Police PRO, while being escorted to recover evidence, he attempted to flee around 1:30 pm.

“He was chased and apprehended after being shot in the leg,” the officer said.

His mother, Daya (55), who had been absconding since the crime, was arrested on Sunday. She had also been named in the FIR lodged by Nikki’s family.

The FIR, registered on 22 August at Kasna Police Station, cites BNS sections 103(1) (murder), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 61 (2) (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or others).

Nikki’s father, Bhikahri Singh, has demanded the harshest punishment for the accused.

“An encounter should be done. This is Baba's (Yogi Adityanath) government, their house should also be bulldozed. If not, we will sit on hunger strike,” he said.

The grieving family performed Nikki’s cremation after her body was handed over.

(PTI inputs)