80-year-old physically challenged woman near Mumbai sets self on fire

Her husband passed away two years ago, after which, she spent most of her time alone, said the police.

An 80-year-old physically-challenged woman from Uran allegedly committed suicide by setting herself on fire on Sunday night. The police were informed by her neighbours, who found her body on Monday morning.

An 80-year-old physically-challenged woman from Uran allegedly committed suicide by setting herself on fire. (HT File (Representational Image))

Balibai Patil lived in Kunde village. Her husband passed away two years ago, after which, she spent most of her time alone, said the police. “She had some distant relatives who hardly visited her. She led a lonely life after her husband’s death,” said an officer from the Uran police station. “A few years ago, Balibai injured her left leg in an accident and was unable to walk properly.”

NG Majge, inspector Uran police station, said, “Balibai would normally wake up early and clean the house. But on Monday, her door was locked till late in the morning. So her neighbours got suspicious and peeped into the house through a small window.”

After her body was discovered, she was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. The doctors said she had suffered 80% burns.

“Prima facie, it appears that she locked herself in the house on Sunday night, poured kerosene on herself and set herself on fire. We have not recovered a suicide note. So far, we have not found anything amiss and have ruled out murder,” Majge said. The police registered an accidental death case. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to her neighbours