An Indian court has sentenced a man, Kishandas, to death for setting his wife, Lakshmi, on fire because of her dark skin—a crime the judge described as “a crime against humanity.”
The brutal attack occurred on June 24, 2017, just a year after the couple married. According to testimony, Lakshmi endured frequent insults from her husband, who mocked her complexion, calling her “kali” (meaning dark) and body-shaming her throughout their marriage.
On the night of the attack, Kishandas allegedly brought home a bottle of brown liquid, which he claimed was a skin-lightening medicine. Lakshmi told the court that he applied the liquid on her body, and when she complained about its strong acid-like smell, he set her ablaze using an incense stick.
As she burned, he poured the remaining liquid on her before fleeing the scene. Lakshmi’s family rushed her to the hospital, but she later died of her injuries.
Delivering the judgment, Judge Rahul Choudhary condemned the crime as one of extreme cruelty.
“It will not be an exaggeration to say that this heart-rending brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but it’s a crime against humanity,” he said. “It’s a crime that shocks the conscience of humanity, which cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society.”
He further ruled that the case fell under the “rarest of the rare” category, meriting the harshest punishment.
The public prosecutor described the verdict as “historic,” expressing hope that it would serve as a deterrent.
“A young woman in her early 20s was brutally murdered. She was someone’s sister, someone’s daughter; there were people who loved her. If we don’t save our daughters, then who would?” he said.
Lakshmi’s murder has reignited conversations about India’s deep-rooted obsession with fair skin. Despite ongoing campaigns challenging colourism, dark-skinned women continue to face discrimination, harassment, and, in extreme cases, deadly violence.
