Kannauj Horror: Man Allegedly Ties Wife to Chair, Burns Her Alive Over Suspected Affair

A domestic dispute rooted in suspicion of an extramarital relationship took a horrific turn in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, where a woman was allegedly tied to a chair and burnt alive by her husband.

The shocking incident came to light after neighbours heard desperate cries for help and noticed flames and thick smoke rising from the couple’s house.

The accused, identified as Sukhbir Singh, allegedly escaped from the burning house with his two young children.

However, his attempt to flee the district was foiled when police tracked him down and arrested him on Thursday afternoon.

According to Mayank Mishra, Circle Officer of Chhibramau, preliminary investigations suggest that Singh had been harbouring suspicions about his wife, Sonam, 30, whom he allegedly accused of having a relationship with another man in their village.

Singh had been employed in Haryana’s Hisar district for more than 10 years and had returned to his Kannauj home two days before the incident. His return reportedly led to repeated confrontations between the couple.

The situation allegedly escalated during an argument that began on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning.

Residents of the neighbourhood were alerted by Sonam’s cries in the early hours of Thursday. They subsequently noticed smoke pouring out of the house and found the building engulfed in flames.

Several people rushed to the spot and contacted the police. Some residents attempted to douse the fire by throwing water towards the burning structure, but the intensity of the blaze prevented anyone from entering the house to reach the woman.

A fire brigade team eventually brought the blaze under control. However, Sonam could not be saved. Her charred remains were discovered on a chair inside the house, while investigators also recovered a burnt nylon cord from the scene.

Police believe the woman had been restrained before being set on fire. The preliminary examination of the room reportedly revealed a strong smell of petrol. Investigators also found a partially burnt bottle believed to have contained the fuel.

Mishra said Singh had allegedly assaulted Sonam during the final confrontation, forced her onto a chair and secured her with a nylon cord.

The accused had reportedly purchased around one litre of petrol before the incident. He allegedly poured the fuel over his wife and set her alight before escaping with their son and daughter, both below 10 years of age.

During preliminary questioning, the children reportedly told police that their father had threatened them and compelled them to accompany him when he left the burning house. Singh was allegedly heading towards Hisar when police intercepted and arrested him.

The couple had married approximately a decade ago after being in a relationship. Their marriage had reportedly been solemnised in Hisar.

Police said Sonam subsequently shifted to her husband’s native village in Kannauj following frequent disagreements between them while they were living together in Haryana.

The accused is in police custody, and further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and determine all circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.