Reply #95: "grooms' families kill the wife" [View All]

Yes. From what I've read "bride burning" is still a horrible problem. In India, in 2005, there were over 7,000 confirmed dowry deaths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_death#Dowry_death

Bride-burning is a disputed term used to describe a form of domestic violence practiced in parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries located on or around the Indian subcontinent. In bride-burning, it is alleged that a husband or the family of the husband douses the man's wife with kerosene, gasoline, or other flammable liquid, and sets the woman alight, leading to death by immolation.

There are several reasons that may be cited by the husband and his family for bride-burning. These commonly include the failure of the wife’s family to provide what is seen as a large enough dowry, the wife's family falling behind on dowry payments, or the desire of the husband to rid himself of his wife without dishonoring himself. Husbands who participate in these crimes may believe that burning their wife is a good way to remove her without evidence, and may provide for an opportunity to marry again and thus receive a larger dowry.