International
Indian man sentenced to death for burning wife alive
Indian man sentenced to death for burning wife alive
A court in India has sentenced a man to d3ath and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 for brutally murdering his wife by burning her alive.
According to Times of India, the accused, identified as Kishandas, was sentenced on Saturday by the Additional District and Sessions Court in Vallabhnagar, Udaipur district.
The man often taunted his wife, Laxmi for her skin complexion, by making her apply an inflammable chemical on herself on the pretext that it would make her fair and then setting her afire, with the judge calling it a heinous crime against humanity.
“Such a crime cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society,” Judge Rahul Chaudhary said while delivering the verdict in the eight-year-old case.
The incident occurred in Navaniya village on June 24, 2017, when Kishandas, having a deep-seated bias against his wife’s appearance, deceived Laxmi into applying a chemical he claimed would make her skin fair, according to the prosecution.
The court said that despite the strange odour of the liquid, which Laxmi suspected to be acidic, she trusted her husband and applied it all over her body.
Kishandas then lit an incense stick, placed it near her stomach, and set her afire.
Laxmi, severely burned, screamed for help and managed to flee, but her husband had already closed the room from inside as part of a conspiracy and she was unable to escape.
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Her in-laws rushed her to the hospital, but Laxmi succumbed to her injuries a few days later.
In the order, the court condemned Kishanda’s actions as “extremely rare and shocking.”
It stated that his cruel behaviour went beyond a mere domestic crime, shaking the conscience of society.
“The extremely heart-wrenching and brutal act was not only a crime against his wife, the deceased Laxmi, but it causes such a shock to the consciousness of entire humanity that it cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society,” the order said.
Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal said that he presented 14 witnesses and 36 documents to demonstrate that Kishandas had been repeatedly taunting Laxmi for her skin colour and physical appearance, which ultimately led to the gruesome act.
The court said that Kishanlal’s conduct, as depicted in his behaviour toward his wife, was reflective of deep-rooted societal prejudices related to skin colour and gender-based violence.
The judgment further pointed out that Laxmi’s dying declaration served as crucial evidence, confirming that she had been taunted by her husband for her physical appearance, which he claimed made her unworthy of him.
The court highlighted the fact that Kishanda’s cruelty was not only aimed at his wife but was also a direct attack on humanity itself.
The dying declaration provided by Laxmi corroborated her accounts of the abuse.
In her statement, Laxmi revealed how Kishandas locked her in a room, mocking her physical appearance, and ultimately carried out his plan to burn her alive.
The court referred to Kishanda’s actions as “reflecting a heinous mindset,” where he subjected Laxmi to humiliation and physical abuse.
The court stated that his behaviour was not just a failure as a husband but also a violation of the trust that is fundamental in any marriage.
Indian man sentenced to death for burning wife alive
International
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
A holiday trip in Switzerland has ended in tragedy after a coach carrying 45 Dutch adults overturned in the eastern part of the country, killing five people and injuring the remaining passengers.
The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon on the road linking Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden region. Police said the vehicle went off the roadway while passing through an area where construction work was taking place before overturning.
Three of those injured are in serious condition, while another 37 people sustained less severe injuries. The driver, who is also Dutch, survived the crash but was among those taken for medical treatment.
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Authorities have begun investigating the incident and are working to establish what caused the coach to leave the road.
Tour operator Oad said the company was devastated by the deaths and described the incident as a deeply shocking tragedy.
The crash took place close to Zernez, a popular gateway to Switzerland’s National Park, a large Alpine nature reserve in the Engadine valley.
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
International
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he does not support prolonging the war with the United States, while urging Iran to strengthen its economic and political resilience.
Speaking to university leaders, Pezeshkian said Tehran must avoid entering negotiations from a position of weakness, particularly as the US increases pressure through its Operation Economic Outcast campaign.
He called on universities to help the government tackle the country’s economic and social challenges, warning that poorly planned policies could worsen existing problems.
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Pezeshkian also urged young Iranians, including Generation Z students, to contribute to solving social problems rather than allowing frustration to fuel protests.
The president said he was willing to work with different political groups and anyone capable of helping Iran overcome its current difficulties.
His comments come amid growing pressure on Tehran to find a way forward. The conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel and US positions across the region.
With Washington now intensifying economic pressure, Pezeshkian’s remarks reflect the challenge facing Tehran: resisting US demands while preventing the prolonged conflict and sanctions from further weakening the country.
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Africa
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
Family and community leaders rally for justice after 58-year-old cleric from Ekiti is assassinated in his Johannesburg residence.
To his congregation and loved ones, Nigerian clergyman Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle was a pillar of faith and moral guidance. But that sanctuary was violently shattered inside his Kensington home in Johannesburg when two gunmen forced their way inside and opened fire at point-blank range.
Hit more than seven times, the 58-year-old Ekiti native died at the scene, sending shockwaves across the Nigerian expatriate community and turning deep grief into a collective cry for justice.
Leading the push for accountability, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) voiced the community’s sorrow and growing frustration with violent crime.
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Association leaders stressed that Bishop Fakunle’s family, church, and compatriots deserve clear answers rather than empty reassurances.
Urging South African investigators to act with speed and transparency, the group warned authorities against letting the tragedy become another forgotten statistic in an endless stack of unsolved homicides.
As detectives at Jeppe Police Station proceed with the murder inquiry, community heads are calling for robust oversight from Nigerian diplomats while urging the public to exercise restraint.
Despite the intense anger surrounding the brazen attack, leaders emphasized that justice must be pursued through legitimate legal channels.
As mourners across South Africa and Nigeria remember the slain bishop, their message to investigators remains clear: the community will not look away until those responsible are brought before a judge.
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
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