19-YR-OLD ATTEMPTS SELF-IMMOLATION

NEW DELHI: A 19-year-old pregnant woman allegedly committed suicide by setting herself on fire in southeast Delhi's Pul Prahladpur area. The woman had taken the extreme step after she was allegedly raped by an auto rickshaw driver on the pretext of marriage. The woman suffered 80 per cent burns and was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. The incident took place on April 25, The woman had written a note alleging that she was supposed to marry the accused on April 26. She had known the accused for the past five years. She had met him on a religious function. She told the police, in her statement, that she was repeatedly raped on the pretext of marriage. Apart from the accused, the woman's family had also not given their consent for the marriage as they were not fond of her choice for a husband. “She poured kerosene and set herself ablaze. Her family tried to douse the fire but by that time she had suffered serious burn wounds. She was later referred to the local hospital, where the doctors had been treating her,” said a police official.