Man Sentenced to Death in India for Burning Wife Alive Over Skin Color Mockery

PNN International Desk:
In Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, a man named Kishandas has been sentenced to death for burning his wife, Lakshmi, alive. Judge Rahul Choudhury described the incident as a “crime against humanity” and called it one of the rarest and most heinous offenses.

According to court records, Kishandas regularly insulted his wife over her skin color. One year into their marriage, on the night of June 24, 2017, he showed her a bottle claiming it contained a medicine that would lighten her skin. He then applied the liquid on her body and set her on fire. Lakshmi was admitted to the hospital in a severely burned condition, but before her death, she detailed the incident to the police, doctors, and the executive magistrate.

The judge noted that Kishandas not only betrayed his wife’s trust but also demonstrated extreme cruelty. “This brutal murder is unimaginable in a civilized society,” he said.

Dinesh Paliwal, the public prosecutor, called the verdict “historic” and said, “It will serve as a lesson for society. Young Lakshmi was someone’s sister and daughter. If we cannot protect our girls, we have failed.”

The defense, however, claimed that the incident was an accident and that Kishandas was falsely implicated. They plan to appeal to the High Court.

India has long struggled with discrimination based on skin color, and the business of skin-lightening creams has been controversial. This verdict has once again brought attention to the deep-rooted social prejudices and harmful practices that endanger the lives of countless women.