A young woman from Ulidih, Mango, died of severe burns in hospital early on Tuesday after allegedly being set on fire by her husband and in-laws over a two-wheeler for dowry.

Nineteen-year-old Madhuri Pramanik’s husband Shishir Pramanik (28), father-in-law Ruthu Pramanik (55) and brothers-in-law Anil Pramanik (22) and Akash Pramanik (19) have been arrested on the basis of her family’s complaint. Mother-in-law Kalpana Pramanik (52), also a named accused, is yet to be taken into custody.

According to Madhuri’s father Dhirendra Prasad Thakur, who is a resident of Balidih in Bokaro, the teenager was married to Shishir, a private company employee and resident of Swarnarekha Colony in Ulidih, on November 28, 2017.

“We had given Shishir Rs 2 lakh in cash at the ceremony. But, six months into the marriage, he began demanding a motorbike,” recalled Thakur.

A barber by profession, the father of the bride was not in a position to meet the demand right away, which led Shishir and his family to vent their anger at Madhuri.

“I had taken a loan for my daughter’s wedding. How could I afford a bike before I repaid that money? My son-in-law began torturing Madhuri, mentally and physically. Her in-laws didn’t let her come to Bokaro anymore,” Thakur said.

In his complaint, the father has mentioned that Shishir even abused and assaulted Madhuri in his presence. “Her mother-in-law too chided her on the slightest pretext. Two months ago, I visited Ulidih to settle the matter once and for all. I was not allowed to enter the house, let alone see my daughter. I wish I had gone to police then. I could have saved my daughter. They set her on fire just for a bike,” the bereaved father said.

Madhuri, admitted to Tata Main Hospital with over 90 per cent burns around 6.30pm on Monday, died around 1am Tuesday, doctors said.

Ulidih thana OC S.P. Tripathy said the arrests were made from the hospital premises in the afternoon.

“The body has been sent to MGM Medical College in Dimna for post-mortem. If the allegations against the husband and the others are substantiated by the autopsy report, we will also arrest the mother-in-law, Kalpana Pramanik, named as main accused,” the officer added.

Speaking to reporters while in police custody, Shishir denied charges of murder for dowry. “Madhuri set herself on fire. She committed suicide. Had we done it, why would we bring her to hospital?” he said.