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The Times of India

AHMEDABAD: Within two days, the city witnessed two deaths due to fire injuries. Both the incidents may be passed off as accidents but for a few glaring facts. The victims in both cases were young, newly married girls. And the investigations in both have been handed to assistant commisioners of police of the respective areas. This is because the girls had been married for less than five years.

"Norms specify that all instances of suspicious deaths, especially those connected to marital relationships which are less than 10 years old, are to be probed by an officer of the rank of ACP and above," said senior police officials. Were these suicides or merely coincidental accidents? This question remains unanswered as police get ready to probe the dowry angle too.

According to Sardarnagar police officials, Dharmishtha Chavda, 22, resident of Angan Society, had married Mahendrasinh in 2005. On Sunday, while preparing dinner at 8 pm, she poured kerosene in the stove. The stove is said to have suddenly exploded setting her saree on fire. She was rushed to a private hospital in Sardarnagar where she succumbed to her injuries on Monday late night. Officials registered a case of accidental death. Investigations of the case have been handed over to a senior officer assistant commissioner of G Division, RF Singada.

In another incident, Maninagar police registered the death of Nimisha Patel, 21, resident of Bhavdeep Society, Amraiwadi. According to her in-laws, Nimisha was severely burnt in a fire accident at her home on Monday. She was immediately rushed to LG Hospital, where she succumbed to her burn injuries after a short treatment. However, police are investigating the possibility of dowry death.

"She was preparing meals at 3 pm, which is a bit difficult for us to believe. Also, the second floor of the house does not have the kitchen where she can get burnt. However, we have questioned her in-laws about the incident. The investigation is on," said a Maninagar police official. In this case, too, the investigations are being supervised by an ACP.