Blamed for 'tasteless curry', wife sets herself ablaze

Distraught 31-year-old woman homemaker committed suicide by setting herself ablaze as her husband scolded her for making 'tasteless curry', in eastern Bengaluru’s DJ Halli, on Thursday, said the police.

Jayalakshmi, who worked as a maid, sent her two sons out to play around 5.30 pm and locked herself in. She poured kerosene on herself and set herself afire, according to the police.

The boys returned after some time and were perplexed to find their mother not opening the door. They peeped through the window and were stunned to see her in flames. They screamed for help. Neighbours rushed in and called the police. Jayalakshmi’s husband, who works in a salon, was not home at the time.

The couple, originally from Raichur, had been married for 10 years and had come down to Bengaluru in search of a job. Jayalakshmi’s parents have filed a police complaint, accusing Nagaraj of ill-treating her.

They said the couple lived happily for the first two years but started fighting later. They suspected that Jayalakshmi committed suicide over marital discord.

Police have detained her husband for questioning.