Self-immolation bid over land row in Uttar Pradesh

Amethi/Lucknow, July 18

The Amethi police suspended three cops after a woman from the district and her daughter set themselves on fire outside the Chief Minister's office in Lucknow alleging inaction in a land dispute, officials said on Saturday. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. The woman is said to be critical while her daughter is stable.

According to Lucknow Civil Hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Ashutosh Dubey, the woman suffered 90 per cent burns and is on life support, while her daughter is stable.

"Three policemen, including the SHO of Jamo police station in Amethi, have been suspended. The matter is being probed by the Additional SP and action will be taken once the report comes," Amethi SP Khyati Garg said.

No suicide note was recovered from Safia or her daughter Gudia, she said.

Garg and Amethi District Magistrate Arun Kumar said Safia (55) had a dispute with her neighbour over a drain and the two had even exchanged blows in the past.

The women were told to come to Lucknow and try to set themselves on fire so that their grievances could be highlighted and the dispute resolved, he said. A reporter in Lucknow was contacted and asked to highlight the issue. The reporter has also admitted to this, he said.

Lashing out at the UP Government, BSP chief Mayawati tweeted, "Action should also be initiated against the officers who showed laxity in this regard, so that such incidents do not happen in future."

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the incident should "wake up an insensitive government". "Is this not enough to wake up a sleeping government or is it that an insensitive government and CM are waiting for any other major incident? Is there something known as a government in Uttar Pradesh?" SP president Akhilesh Yadav asked in a Hindi tweet. — PTI