Fighting depression, 78-year-old woman immolates herself in Mohali

Tribune News Service
Mohali, July 25

A 78-year-old woman allegedly committed self-immolation in a washroom of her house in Phase 3B2 here in the wee hours of Saturday.

The victim has been identified as Amarjit Kaur, a native of Karnal in Haryana. She had three daughters. She was living with her youngest daughter, who is married here, since January this year. The victim’s husband, Avtar Singh, had already died.

According to the police, Amarjit Kaur was a patient of depression since long and was getting treatment from a doctor at Phase IV. The police said she could have taken the extreme step due to depression.

The victim went to a washroom and set herself afire. The incident occurred around 3 am. At the time of incident, the victim’s daughter Kanwaljit Kaur and son-in-law Ratan Singh were asleep.

On getting information, Inspector Rajiv Kumar, SHO, Mataur police station, along with other cops, rushed to the spot and recovered the burnt body from the washroom.

Inspector Rajiv Kumar said, “The victim took a chair inside the washroom and sat on it before pouring some liquid on her body and setting herself ablaze using a matchstick. The liquid used in the self-immolation is not confirmed yet. Her daughter stated that the victim was suffering from depression and they did not suspect anyone else was behind the incident.”

Sources said the victim sprayed ‘Hit’, an insect repellent, on her clothes and used a matchstick to burn herself.

DSP (City-1) Gursher Singh said, “The use of any chemical or liquid will only be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received. We have checked her medical reports and it has been learnt that depression was the main reason for her taking the extreme step. Further investigation into the incident is on.”

The victim’s post-mortem examination was conducted at the Civil Hospital in Phase VI here today.

Meanwhile, the Mataur police have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC on the statement of the victim’s daughter.