Lover arrested for abetment six days after woman’s self-immolation in Khanna

Accused had promised to marry the woman and later backtracked from the promise after establishing a physical relation with her, her father complained to the police

Six days after a 31-year-old woman immolated herself at a foot overbridge near Beeja village in Khanna on March 4, the police on Wednesday arrested her lover for abetment of suicide.

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Identified as Simranjit Singh, alias Simmi, 22, the accused is a factory worker and lives in Barmalipur village, Doraha, said police.

According to the deceased woman’s father, a resident of Bhatthal village, Payal, after his daughter ended her life, he discovered that she was in a relationship with Simranjit.

His younger daughter revealed to him that Simranjit had promised to marry his elder daughter and established a physical relationship with her, but later backtracked from his promise. This pushed her into depression.

On March 4, she left the house stating that she was going to look for a job. But soon after, they received a call from the police about her self-immolation at a foot overbridge on National Highway-44 near Beeja village. Her scooter was parked near the bridge and a petrol can was found near the body.

While the police had initially initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, they have now booked Simranjit under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was produced before a court and remanded in 14-day judicial custody.