Molestation victim who set herself on fire dies

Repeatedly molested by her husband's uncle, a 25-year-old woman who set herself on fire on September 15 succumbed to burn injuries at the PGI on Friday night.

Repeatedly molested by her husband's uncle, a 25-year-old woman who set herself on fire on September 15 succumbed to burn injuries at the PGI on Friday night.

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The victim, Charanjit Kaur, a resident of Dittupur village near here, had suffered 90% burns. The victim, in her statement to the police, said the sexual advances of her husband's uncle Jodha Singh had forced her to take the extreme step.

She claimed in the FIR that Jodha had tried to develop physical relations with her a few days after her marriage with Jarnail Singh in 2010. The police said Jarnail had been living with Jodha since childhood. Investigating officer Balwinder Singh said that on September 15, Charanjit had complained to her husband about his uncle's sexual advances.

In the tension that followed, Charanjit locked herself in a room and set herself ablaze after pouring kerosene. Her husband suffered minor burns while trying to save her. They were taken to a local hospital, from where Charanjit was referred to the PGI. Jodha, booked for abetment to suicide under section 306 of the IPC, is at large.