In a suspected case of suicide over dowry harassment, a 25-year-old woman allegedly set herself and her year-old daughter on fire here on Wednesday.

Marri Hymavathi died of severe burns before neighbours could break open the door. Her baby died on the way to Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad, police said.

The incident took place at around 10.30 a.m. at Rangapur village, about 3 km from Bommalaramaram. The woman, who was alone with the baby at home, locked the house doors before resorting to the extreme step, said police. Neighbours alerted by screams and smoke billowing out of the house broke open the doors, but by then, the woman had died.

A petition filed by the woman’s father, Narsimha Reddy, accused his son-in-law Marri Shyam Kumar Reddy, a farmer, of dowry torture.

Police said Hymavathi was at her parents’ house for the past few months, and had returned to Rangapur only two days ago. She had last spoken to her father on Monday night, and was told things would be set right on Tuesday when the family was supposed to hold talks.

Bommalaramaram SI L. Madhu Babu said suspicions have arisen in the case. The woman’s mortal remains are still at Bhongir Area hospital for post-mortem. A full probe will be led by Bhongir ACP Bhujanga Rao.

(There is always someone to listen at: +914066202000 in case of any emotional breakdown at this Hyderabad-based suicide intervention centre, Roshni).