Quack sets wife on fire, held

New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) A quack set his wife on fire here after an argument while their minor girl looked on in horror, police said Sunday. The victim is battling for her life and the accused has been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

Satish Verma, 37, set his wife, Ambika, 26, on fire in east Delhi's Karawal Nagar Saturday afternoon, police said.

Neighbours told police that the accused frequently fought with his wife as she had failed to give birth to a boy.

Verma was arrested on the basis of a statement made by his daughter Saumya, 6. Verma was sent to 14 days police custody, police said.

The girl told police that her father poured kerosene on her mother and set her on fire, police said.

"Ambika received 90 percent burns and is stated to be critical," said a police officer.