Bengaluru cabbie sets self ablaze in front of estranged wife’s house; dies

Bengaluru: A 39-year-old cab driver died on Thursday after setting himself on fire near his estranged wife’s house in west Bengaluru’s Jnanabharathi, the police said.

An unnatural death report has been filed.

Manjunath H, a resident of Tumakuru, allegedly self-immolated following a domestic dispute around 11 am in NGEF Layout, under the jurisdiction of the Jnanabharathi police station.

Three hours before the incident, he had visited his wife’s house and pleaded for reconciliation, but she rejected his request, citing his history of frequent quarrels.

An investigator revealed that Manjunath married the woman in 2013, and the couple has a nine-year-old child. However, their relationship soured over the years due to constant conflicts, leading to their separation in 2022.

“They severed ties in 2022 after frequent fights between them. The couple had applied for divorce in 2023,” the officer said.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Manjunath reportedly visited his wife multiple times seeking reconciliation, but she kept rejecting his pleas,  resulting in outbursts.

On Thursday, after his plea was once again dismissed, he left briefly but returned around 11 am with a bottle of inflammable liquid, which he used to set himself on fire.