Patna: A 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out in their hotel room on Station Road in Khagaria on Friday morning. The two, who had reportedly been in a relationship for around six months and were discussing marriage, were taken to a hospital by hotel staff and local residents.The man, identified as Naval Kumar Sahni, a resident of Hayaghat in Darbhanga district, alleged that the woman poured petrol on him and set his clothes on fire following an argument over their marriage plans. The woman is also reportedly a resident of Hayaghat.Police said the exact circumstances leading to the fire were not yet clear and that all possible angles were being examined.Police said the woman was studying while staying at her maternal grandmother’s house in Dalsinghsarai, Samastipur, while Naval worked and lived in a rented accommodation in Karagola, Katihar. The two had reportedly come to Khagaria in connection with their marriage plans and checked into the hotel.In his statement to police, Naval alleged that the woman had initially called him to Katihar. However, after they could not find a hotel there, they travelled to Khagaria and took a room.According to Naval, he woke up around 3am and told the woman that he wanted to leave. It was during this period, he alleged, that the woman poured petrol over him and set his clothes on fire.Naval said he managed to open the room door after the fire started. He then took the woman towards the window and first extinguished the flames on her body before putting out the fire on himself, according to his statement. Both suffered burn injuries.Naval also told investigators that he had told the woman around a month ago that he did not want to marry her. He claimed the issue had subsequently led to disagreements between them.Police have not yet established whether the fire was deliberately started, how it originated or what happened inside the room immediately before the incident. Naval’s statement is being treated as one version of events, while investigators are examining other possibilities. The woman was not in a condition to give a statement, police said.
