Rajasthan: Man sets self on fire after dispute with live-in woman

JAISALMER: A 50-year-old man tried to immolate himself by sprinkling petrol in front of Kotwali police station on Wednesday. Some policemen doused the fire and took him to the district hospital, from where he was referred to a hospital in Jodhpur.
Police said the victim, Govardhan Ram Mali, sustained 50 per cent burns. On learning of his act, SDO Daulat Choudhary, DSP Priyanka Kumawat and city SHO Girdhar Singh reached the hospital in Jaisalmer.
SP Bhanwar Singh Nathawat said Mali had on lodged a case at the police station on Monday against a woman with whom he was in a live-in relationship for some time, accusing her of stealing gold and silver from his house. The woman lodged a case against him the next day at the women’s police station, accusing him of raping her, he added.
“Cases have been lodged by both the sides and investigations are on. He (victim) has sustained 50% burns and was referred to Jodhpur. We are investigating this, too,” said the SP.
Mali’s son Bharat Kumar said a woman had been harassing and blackmailing his father for quite a long time. “She had lodged a case against my father at Mohangarh police station and women’s police station. She was giving him repeated threats. My father had presented himself before the SP and the women’s police station. He was very disturbed with the situation. So he took this step,” he said.
DSP Kumawat said that Mali’s condition is stable. “Both cases are being investigated,” he added.