Gurgaon: Five days after a 23-year-old woman was allegedly burnt with boiling water while she was sleeping and kept locked inside a room for three days, Faridabad Police arrested a couple in connection with the case on Friday.The accused, Lalita and her husband Dharmendra, were arrested by Dhauj police for allegedly assaulting the woman at their house in Qureshipur village.According to the woman’s complaint, the incident took place in the early hours of August 16, when she was sleeping in a room at the couple’s house. Lalita and Dharmendra allegedly poured boiling water on her, causing severe burns to the portion of her body below the chest and her arm. The woman, Preeti, alleged that the couple then kept her locked inside the room for three days and did not allow her to seek medical treatment.Preeti had been staying at Lalita’s house for around two months amid marital discord with her husband, Rohit. Police said the two women had frequently quarrelled over household matters and had also argued about cooking on August 15.“On the basis of her complaint, Dhauj police registered a case and launched an investigation. Police subsequently arrested Lalita and Dharmendra on August 21,” said Yashpal Yadav, police spokesperson.During questioning, police said Lalita told investigators that Preeti had not been helping with household work for several days, leading to repeated disputes. According to police, Lalita wanted Preeti to leave the house and, along with Dharmendra, allegedly assaulted her before locking her inside.Preeti, however, also alleged that the couple had “fixed a deal” of Rs 3 lakh to marry her to a 65-year-old man.She was rescued on Wednesday after her maternal uncle Rahul, who lives about a kilometre away, approached police and got the room opened. Preeti was taken to BK Hospital and later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for treatment.Police said all aspects of the case were being investigated and further action would depend on the findings.
