Stepson Allegedly Sets Woman on Fire in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir
A woman dies after her stepson allegedly sets her on fire in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. The incident raises concerns over rising youth crime.
Udhampur, October 22 (Daily Kiran) : A tragic incident occurred in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, where a woman lost her life after being allegedly set on fire by her stepson. The 42-year-old victim, identified as Sushma Devi, was reportedly attacked on Wednesday evening in the Housing Colony area.
According to police, the accused, Moksh Verma, allegedly doused Sushma with petrol before igniting the flames. She was initially taken to a local hospital but was later referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries during the course of treatment.
Witnesses reported that Sushma suffered severe burns, with approximately 70 percent of her body affected. Family members and neighbors rushed her to the district hospital in Udhampur before her transfer to GMC Jammu.
Authorities have arrested Moksh Verma and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. This incident has sparked concerns over the rising trend of youth crime in Jammu and Kashmir. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates a significant increase in cases involving juvenile offenders, with reports rising from 171 in 2020 to 361 in 2022.
Experts in legal and mental health fields in the Union Territory suggest that many juvenile offenders are first-time criminals, often driven by family discord, severe economic hardship, and a lack of parental guidance rather than habitual criminal tendencies.
