Indian-origin woman burned alive in New Zealand

The police in New Zealand have alerted Interpol to trace the husband of an Indian-origin woman who was allegedly burnt to death last week in the country, a media report said.

According to the police, the husband of the victim, identified as Ranjeeta Sharma, 28, has fled to Fiji, where the couple came from, along with their four-year-old son, on Friday, a day after her body was spotted burning by the side of an isolated road near Huntly, the Waikato Times reported. The police said the couple's car was recovered at Auckland airport.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said the focus was now on finding her husband, who the police were yet to name. "He is considered a person of considerable significance to the investigation and we are working with the Interpol to locate and speak to him. We are also working with overseas authorities to establish the wellbeing of the young boy and ensure his safety," he said.

Keall confirmed that the police were executing search warrants at a number of addresses over the next few days in the South Auckland area. The police have also appealed for sightings of the victim's car, a silver Subaru station wagon, in the South Auckland and Huntly-Rotowaro areas on Thursday or Friday.

Investigators had earlier confirmed Sharma was still alive when she was set alight and forensic tests had confirmed an accelerant was used. The police would not, however, comment on whether the case was that of bride burning or honour killing, the report said.