A 30-year-old Muslim woman has died in eastern India after being set on fire by Siddhartha Chariwal, a Hindu man whose marriage proposal she had rejected, police said.
Before her death, the woman gave a dying declaration naming Chariwal as the attacker, providing crucial evidence in the case.
Lured with a job offer, then attacked
The incident took place in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.
According to the police complaint, Chariwal allegedly lured the woman to a secluded area in the Maidan, a large public ground in central Kolkata, on the pretext of a job interview.
Investigators said an argument broke out shortly after she arrived. He then allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her on fire.
People nearby rushed to help and informed the police. She was taken to SSKM Hospital, where doctors said she had suffered nearly 90 percent burns.
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She remained in critical condition for two days before dying on Monday.
Victim identified attacker before death
Despite her severe injuries, the woman managed to give a detailed statement to the police, clearly identifying Chariwal as the man who attacked her.
Her mother said: “My daughter had gone for a job interview. Later, we got a call that she had been found badly burnt. At the hospital, she told us everything and named the man who did this.”
The family said the accused had been pressuring her to marry him for some time and had also offered her a job.
She had refused both.
“She clearly told him she would not marry him and did not want the job. After that, this happened,” her mother added.
Police arrested Chariwal from the Beleghata area of Kolkata shortly after the incident.
Officials said the case was initially registered as attempted murder but will now be upgraded to murder following her death.
Public prosecutor Arup Chakraborty said the charges would be formally revised after the post-mortem examination.
Authorities said the dying declaration will be a key part of the case.
The killing has sparked outrage and raised concerns about violence faced by Muslim women in India, especially in cases involving harassment, coercion and rejected proposals.
Such incidents continue to highlight the risks women face after refusing advances, with growing calls for stronger protection and accountability.
