Balurghat, Oct. 3: This time, it was a husband who became a victim of torture by his wife and mother-in-law. He died in a Balurghat hospital last night.

The police have arrested his wife and mother-in-law on charges of murder.

Anil Shil, 40, the owner of a telephone booth, was throttled and his private parts were crushed by his wife Swapna Shil and his mother-in-law on Wednesday at his house at Patiram in Balurghat police station area. His head also bore marks of injury.

Neighbours who came to his rescue took him to Balurghat hospital. Anil’s wife initially told neighbours that he had fallen in the toilet and hurt himself. He succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

In his dying statement, Anil said his wife and mother-in-law sat on his chest and pressed a pillow to his throat before smashing his private parts. They also hit him on his head with a “heavy object” to kill him.

Anil’s brother Surajit lodged a First Information Report with the police on Wednesday.The police arrested his wife and mother-in-law.

The neighbours alleged that Balaram Sutradhar, owner of a garment shop, had a hand in the brutal murder. Unmarried Balaram allegedly had an illicit relationship with Anil’s wife.

Superintendent of police R. Shib Kumar said Anil’s wife and mother-in-law were arrested on charges of murder. “We are looking into the charges of an illicit relationship,” he said.