Four members of a family, including a toddler, were burnt alive when a house was set afire in Murshidabad district on Friday night.

The deceased included Ramjan Sheikh, 40, who allegedly set the home alight at Bahalnagar village under the jurisdiction of Sagardighi police station. The police said he had tried to flee but was caught in the flames.

Ramjan was found with severe burns outside the charred house of mud walls and tiled roof and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

According to the police, the suspect locked his in-laws inside a room during an altercation, poured petrol on them and set the house ablaze around 8.30pm.

The three other deceased persons were Kobra Biwi, 62, Tahera Biwi, 26, and Tausif Sheikh, 4. Kobra was the mother-in-law, and Tahera and Tausif were the wife and son of Ramjan’s brother-in-law.

Six other family members and a neighbouring woman sustained critical burns.

Residents and the police took the victims to Sagardighi Block Hospital where four were pronounced dead. Four others, including the accused’s father-in-law, Morjem Sheikh, 68, were transferred to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.

A forensic team visited the scene to determine if explosives were used to ignite the fire.

The police and local sources said Ramjan’s wife, Kohinur Bibi, had committed suicide a year back allegedly over marital issues. Ramjan was a resident of Karaiya village.

On Friday night, Ramjan visited his in-laws’ residence in Bahalnagar, where a heated argument ensued.

A neighbour said the exact motive behind the ghastly act was unclear.”