Woman sets herself ablaze outside police headquarters

A 45-year-old woman set herself afire outside the Delhi police headquarters on Monday evening.

According to the police, Shushila (45) poured an inflammable material on her body and set herself ablaze around 4.15 pm outside the Delhi police headquarters at the ITO junction in central Delhi. 

‘She was there with her daughter and had reached the police headquarters probably to meet senior officials regarding a complaint. When she couldn’t convince the officials stationed at the headquarter gate and enter the premises, she attempted suicide,’ sources said.

An empty bottle which smelled of petrol was recovered from the spot where the incidence took place, the sources added.

The police officials stationed at the headquarter gates set off the fire on her body and immediately rushed her to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital, where she was reported to have been admitted with 45 per cent burn injuries. ‘We are yet to record her statement as right now she is not in a fit condition for that,’ the official said.

He further mentioned that in the rescue act, a police official also injured his forearms severely. He was treated at LNJP and discharged later in the evening.

Sushila is a resident of Durga Park at Sagarpur in south-west Delhi. She lives there with her family. 

Further investigations by police revealed that she was having issues with her younger sister who is unmarried. 

She had approached police officials of the south-west district around three days ago, but the matter wasn’t completely resolved, the official said.

In the past, police officials had tried to bring peace between the two sisters. 

But since it was a family issue, no legal action was initiated, said an official. ‘We are further investigating the case now,’ he added.