Woman, 24, sets herself on fire after tiff with husband

Times News Network
Ludhiana: After an argument with her husband, a 24-year-old woman set herself on fire at her house in Peeru Banda Mohalla of Salem Tabri on Sunday night.
Amrita has received 80% burns and is admitted to ESIC Hospital. Police said she had strained relations with her husband and mother-in-law.
Amrita had tied the knot with Shankar, a scrap dealer, four years ago. The couple have two children, a three-year-old son and a nine-month-old daughter.
In her police statement, which was recorded in front of a magistrate on Monday, Amrita said, “My husband and in-laws started harassing me soon after the marriage. They would torment me over trivial issues. Earlier, I worked as a domestic help, but my husband and mother-in-law were against it. They would pester me to quit the job, which I left after my daughter’s birth nine months ago.”
A few days ago, Amrita resumed working as a domestic help. On Sunday evening, her mother-in-law had gone out along with her two grandchildren. “When I returned from work, Shankar started arguing with me, saying I was late in coming back home. After the squabble, he went out,” she added.
Fed up of the everyday petty quarrels, Amrita bolted their one-room accommodation from inside, sprinkled kerosene oil on her and set herself on fire around 8.30pm.
On hearing her screams, neighbours called Shankar who was in the street.
Salem Tabri police station SHO inspector Gopal Krishan said, “The ceiling of their house is made of tin. Shankar climbed over and broke into his house to rescue Amrita.”
In the meantime, neighbours called up the police, who rushed Amrita to ESIC Hospital after ambulance failed to reach the spot in time.
“Amrita has suffered 80% burns and her condition is stated to be critical. An FIR is being lodged against Shankar and her mother-in-law Laxmi under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 511 (attempt to commit an offence) of the IPC,” the SHO added.