Jamshedpur, July 1: A couple today sustained severe burn injuries after they set themselves on fire in their house at Harharguttu, allegedly to avoid the torture from a kin over a piece of land.

The victims ? Sandeep Kumar Rajak (35) and Anita Rajak ? are battling for life at Tata Main Hospital (TMH). Anita received 80 per cent burns, while her spouse was lucky to survive with 50 per cent.

In his statement after the emergency treatment at TMH, Sandeep said he and his wife tried to kill themselves because his younger brother, Basant Kumar Rajak, wanted them to vacate a part of the land on which they lived. Basant regularly tortured them, he alleged.

TMH sources said the condition of the couple was very serious. ?The woman is in a critical condition and the chances of her survival are less, but the man may pull off,? sources said.

The couple?s neighbours, who brought them to the hospital, said that they suddenly heard shrieks for help from Sandeep?s house around 9.30 am.

?Upon reaching there, we saw the two were on fire and Sandeep was frantically trying to put out the fire. By the time we managed to douse the flames, both were severely burnt,? they stated, adding that they immediately reported the incident to Bagbera police.

Initially, the couple was rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College and Hospital, but after preliminary treatment, they were shifted to TMH.

Sandeep, who runs a small business, said Basant always warned them of dire consequences if they did not hand over a part of the plot to him.

?This morning, he came with a sword and sat outside our house, saying that if we came out of the house he would kill us. We had had enough and therefore, we decided to end our lives. We poured on us a gallon of kerosene and set ourselves ablaze. We thought that our death would end our problems and my brother would get the piece of land and be happy,? he added.