Woman dies, husband critical following mysterious self-immolation

A newly married couple immolated themselves for unknown reasons at their home in Gattahalli off Anekal on Sunday afternoon. While the woman died, her husband is battling for life at Victoria Hospital.

Rekha, 25, and Ashok, 27, both from Bidar, had married six months ago. Just three days ago, they moved to the house of Rekha’s brother, Vaidyanath, in Gattahalli. Vaidyanath is a conductor with the BMTC and had helped Ashok find work as a security guard, said the Hebbagodi police.

On Sunday afternoon, once Vaidyanath left for work, the couple locked themselves in the house. They then poured kerosene over themselves and set themselves afire. Seeing the smoke, neighbours pounded on the door.

When there was no response, they broke in only to find the couple in flames. They doused the flames with blankets and took them to Victoria Hospital. But doctors there declared Rekha brought dead while Ashok is still battling for life with 80 per cent burns, the police added. A case has been registered.

3 held for multiple break-ins

The Thyagarajanagar police recently arrested three habitual offenders and recovered stolen valuables worth Rs 18 lakh from them.

Police said they arrested Santhosh, Ajay and Dhanagopal after receiving a tip-off. The suspects are habitual offenders and their modus operandi was to break into locked houses and make away with the valuables, said the police.

Santhosh alone is wanted in 32 cases of burglary.

The arrests have solved seven cases of burglary and investigation is on to find out if they the trio committed more such offences in the City, said the police.