Noida Dowry Death Accused Shot in Leg by Police While Trying to Flee Custody

The prime accused in the gruesome Greater Noida dowry murder case was shot in the leg by police on Saturday after he reportedly snatched an officer’s pistol and attempted to escape custody. The accused, Vipin Bhati, who allegedly burned his wife Nikki to death, showed no remorse after his arrest, callously dismissing the incident as a common marital dispute.

According to police, the dramatic escape attempt occurred while Vipin was being taken to recover an inflammable liquid bottle used in the crime. Near Sirsa Chauraha, he allegedly grabbed a sub-inspector’s pistol and tried to flee. After repeated warnings were ignored, officers opened fire, injuring him in the leg. Vipin was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

Despite the gravity of the charges against him, Vipin remained defiant. “I have no remorse. I haven’t killed her. She died on her own. Husband and wife often have fights. It is very common,” he told reporters after his arrest.

The police action was welcomed by the victim’s family. “The police did the right thing. A criminal always tries to run, and Vipin was a criminal. Our request is that the others should also be caught,” Nikki’s father told India Today, demanding justice for his daughter. He had earlier called for bulldozers to be used against the accused and threatened a hunger strike if swift action was not taken.

Nikki was brutally tortured and set on fire by her in-laws in front of her young son and sister. The crime was partially captured in horrific video clips that showed her being assaulted and dragged by her hair. Her six-year-old son provided a chilling account, stating, “They poured something on my mother, slapped her, and then set her on fire with a lighter.”

The victim’s family detailed a long history of dowry harassment, alleging that their demands never ceased despite being met repeatedly. “First they demanded a Scorpio in dowry, which was given. Later, they asked for a Bullet bike, and that too was provided,” Nikki’s father said. A preliminary probe revealed that Vipin had recently been demanding a Mercedes that Nikki’s father had just purchased.