Police have arrested a 40-year-old man for his alleged attempt to burn his wife alive in Tapeshwori, Udayapur district.

Area Police Office in Rampurthoksi detained Ghanashyam Chaudhary of Tapeshwori-1 charge of attempted murder. According to Inspector Amatlal Majhi, Chaudhary set his wife Naunadevi, 32, on fire after dousing her body with petrol.

The victim, who has sustained serious burn injuries, is receiving treatment at a health facility at Phattepur in Saptari district.   

The victim was rescued by the neighbours who had reached the incident site just after her husband had set her on fire. Preliminary investigation suggests that the perpetrator tried to burn the victim alive after she refused to give him Rs 3,000, according to police. According to the neighbours, Chaudhary used to ask for money to buy alcohol. He used to thrash her in the past as well when she refused to oblige, they said. The victim, mother of five children, sells vegetables in the local market.