Malda man arrested after wife Chunni Khatun dies of burn injuries
Synopsis
A 20-year-old bride from Bihar died in a Malda hospital burn unit after her husband allegedly tied her to a bamboo pole and set her on fire — reportedly triggered by an argument over a video call with his girlfriend. The husband has been arrested; three in-laws are absconding. The marriage was just a year old.
Key Takeaways
Chunni Khatun , 20 , died at Malda Medical College and Hospital on 8 August from severe burn injuries.
Her husband, Samiul Sheikh , a local businessman from Nurpur, Manikchak , was arrested following a family complaint alleging he set her on fire.
The alleged attack reportedly followed an argument after Chunni discovered Samiul on a video call with another woman and broke his phone.
Complaints have also been filed against brother-in-law Anes Sheikh , sister-in-law Chameli Bibi , and mother-in-law Dilnur Bibi , all of whom are absconding.
The couple had married one year ago ; family says domestic problems began three months ago after an alleged extramarital affair came to light.
A 20-year-old woman died at the burn unit of Malda Medical College and Hospital on Saturday, 8 August, after allegedly being set on fire by her husband, who was subsequently arrested by police in Manikchak, Malda district, West Bengal. The deceased has been identified as Chunni Khatun, a resident of Katihar, Bihar.
What Happened
According to police, the incident occurred in the Nurpur Panchayat area under the jurisdiction of Manikchak police station. Chunni had been admitted to the hospital several days prior in a critical condition with severe burns covering most of her body. She succumbed to her injuries on Saturday morning.
Her family filed a complaint alleging that her husband, Samiul Sheikh, a local businessman and resident of Nurpur in Manikchak, had set her on fire. Based on this complaint, police arrested Samiul following her death.
The Alleged Sequence of Events
According to the family's account, trouble in the marriage began approximately three months ago when Chunni discovered that Samiul was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair with a local woman. Her relatives claimed he had also been physically abusing her during this period.
On the day of the alleged attack, Samiul was reportedly on a video call with his girlfriend at home when Chunni saw him and an argument broke out. She allegedly broke his mobile phone in anger. According to the complaint, Samiul then allegedly tied Chunni's hands and feet to a bamboo pole and set her on fire. Neighbours who heard her screams rushed to the spot, but she had already sustained severe burns by then.
Others Named in the Complaint
A written complaint has also been filed against Chunni's brother-in-law Anes Sheikh, sister-in-law Chameli Bibi, and mother-in-law Dilnur Bibi. Police said all three are currently absconding. Samiul did not respond to questions about the allegations at the time of his arrest.
Background
Chunni and Samiul had married approximately one year ago in an arranged marriage. Her family said relations were reportedly normal in the initial months, with domestic discord emerging only after the alleged affair came to light. The couple's marriage connected families across two states — Samiul from West Bengal and Chunni from Bihar.
Police have registered a case and the investigation is ongoing. The absconding family members remain at large as authorities continue their search.
Point of View
It is a deliberate act. The fact that three family members are absconding suggests a wider circle of complicity that investigators must pursue. Domestic burn deaths in India remain chronically under-prosecuted; this case will test whether the local police machinery can move from arrest to conviction.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chunni Khatun and what happened to her?
Chunni Khatun was a 20-year-old woman from Katihar, Bihar, who died at Malda Medical College and Hospital on 8 August from severe burn injuries. Her family alleges her husband, Samiul Sheikh, tied her to a bamboo pole and set her on fire following a domestic argument.
Who has been arrested in the Malda burn death case?
Samiul Sheikh, Chunni's husband and a local businessman from Nurpur in Manikchak, was arrested by police after her death based on a complaint filed by her family. Three other family members — Anes Sheikh, Chameli Bibi, and Dilnur Bibi — have also been named and are reportedly absconding.
What triggered the alleged attack?
According to the family's complaint, the immediate trigger was an argument over Samiul allegedly being on a video call with another woman at home. Chunni reportedly broke his mobile phone during the confrontation, after which the alleged assault took place.
How long had the couple been married?
Chunni and Samiul had been married for approximately one year in an arranged marriage. Relatives say domestic problems began roughly three months before the incident, after Chunni allegedly discovered her husband was involved with another woman.
Where did the incident take place?
The incident occurred in the Nurpur Panchayat area under Manikchak police station in Malda district, West Bengal. Chunni was subsequently admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital, where she died on Saturday morning.
