<p>Katihar (Bihar): Three children were charred to death after being set on fire allegedly by their debt-ridden father in Bihar's Katihar district, police said.</p><p>The incident took place in Bharin village in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.</p><p>The deceased were identified as Rinki Kumari (9) and her two brothers -- Raja Kumar (12) and Subhankar Kumar (13).</p><p>Preliminary investigation revealed that their father, Dinesh Singh, set them on fire, and later set himself also ablaze, sustaining burn injuries in the incident.</p><p>Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar said, "As per preliminary probe, Dinesh Singh, a debt-ridden and mentally-disturbed person, first doused his three children with petrol and set them on fire. Later, he also set himself ablaze. The fire engulfed their house."</p><p>"While two children died on the spot, and another succumbed to injuries at a hospital, the accused was also hospitalised and his condition is stated to be stable," he added.</p><p>The accused has told the police that financial crisis forced him to take the extreme step, the SP said.</p><p>Villagers claimed that Singh was under mental stress as other family members had recently deserted him, Kumar said.</p><p>The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination and further investigation is underway, the SP added.</p>
<p>Katihar (Bihar): Three children were charred to death after being set on fire allegedly by their debt-ridden father in Bihar's Katihar district, police said.</p><p>The incident took place in Bharin village in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.</p><p>The deceased were identified as Rinki Kumari (9) and her two brothers -- Raja Kumar (12) and Subhankar Kumar (13).</p><p>Preliminary investigation revealed that their father, Dinesh Singh, set them on fire, and later set himself also ablaze, sustaining burn injuries in the incident.</p><p>Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar said, "As per preliminary probe, Dinesh Singh, a debt-ridden and mentally-disturbed person, first doused his three children with petrol and set them on fire. Later, he also set himself ablaze. The fire engulfed their house."</p><p>"While two children died on the spot, and another succumbed to injuries at a hospital, the accused was also hospitalised and his condition is stated to be stable," he added.</p><p>The accused has told the police that financial crisis forced him to take the extreme step, the SP said.</p><p>Villagers claimed that Singh was under mental stress as other family members had recently deserted him, Kumar said.</p><p>The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination and further investigation is underway, the SP added.</p>