Noida, 25 Aug (HS): The father and brother-in-law

of Nikki Bhati, a 26-year-old lady who was reportedly burned alive over dowry

demands in Greater Noida, have been detained, police said Monday. The suspects,

Satveer Bhati (55) and Rohit Bhati (28), were apprehended by Kasna Police near

Sirsa Toll Chauraha following a tip-off and manual intelligence inputs,

according to a statement. According to the official, both arrests were done

separately, with some time separation between the two. Nikki's spouse, Vipin Bhati, brother Rohit,

mother, and father are among those named as defendants in the FIR. All four

were arrested. On August 22, a complaint was filed against four people at Kasna

Police Station under sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily inflicting

harm), and 61(2) (attempting to commit acts punishable by life imprisonment or

others) of the BNS.

Rohit fled,

according to police, after the event aroused uproar throughout the region. On

Thursday night, Nikki's husband Vipin Bhati and in-laws reportedly assaulted

her and set fire to their home in Sirsa village, Greater Noida. Disturbing

recordings of attack, captured by Nikki's elder sister Kanchan, who is married

into the same family, went viral on social media. One video showed Nikki being

dragged by her hair, while another showed her marching down the stairs in

flames before fainting. Vipin Bhati was detained on Saturday and then wounded

in the leg during an attempted escape from police custody on Sunday. His

mother, Daya (55), was also detained that day. Vipin allegedly seized the

sub-inspector's gun and shot at policemen while being taken to gather evidence,

forcing police to react.

Nikki's family

said she was subjected to years of abuse and growing dowry demands following

her marriage in 2016. They claimed to have already provided her in-laws a

Scorpio SUV, a motorbike, and gold jewelry, but their demands eventually

escalated to Rs 36 lakh in cash and a luxury automobile. Nikki's elder sister

Kanchan, who is married in the same family and witnessed the event, informed

reporters that she was assaulted in front of her little kid. She also informed authorities that Nikki had

been sprayed with flammable liquid and set on fire. Bhikahri Singh, the

victim's father, stated that his daughters Kanchan and Nikki were married to

brothers Rohit and Vipin Bhati in 2016. He said that they had been tormenting

both girls and demanding dowry since then.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi