BIJNOR, Uttar Pradesh – A 21-year-old woman set herself on fire outside a police station in Bijnor district on Sunday night, sustaining severe burn injuries. The incident has led to the suspension of the Station House Officer (SHO) of the City Kotwali police station amid allegations of negligence and security lapses.
The woman had accused an Army jawan of rape on the pretext of marriage. An FIR was filed, and later a chargesheet was submitted. However, the accused obtained a stay on his arrest from the High Court.
According to police, the woman had been repeatedly demanding that the jawan and his family be summoned to the police station to expedite a marriage settlement. On Sunday evening, she approached the City Kotwali police station and made this demand to the SHO and other personnel. Police officials explained the legal situation and stated that the accused could not be summoned due to the court’s stay order.
She reportedly left the station but returned later that night. Around 10:45 PM, while police personnel were attending to routine duties, the woman allegedly poured petrol on herself and ignited it. She then ran towards the SHO’s cabin, where the SHO reportedly used curtains to douse the flames.
The injured woman was initially taken to a local hospital, then referred to Meerut, and subsequently shifted to a hospital in Delhi for specialized treatment. Doctors have indicated that she sustained approximately 50% burn injuries.
Following a preliminary inquiry, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Bijnor, Abhishek Jha, noted a significant security breach. CCTV footage revealed that no sentry was posted at the main gate, allowing entry to individuals carrying potentially hazardous materials. The SP stated that this lapse could have endangered lives. Consequently, the SHO has been suspended for grave negligence. Police also indicated that action would be taken against the woman’s stepfather, who allegedly brought the petrol in a bottle, for possibly assisting or coercing her into taking the drastic step.
This incident follows a pattern of similar occurrences in Uttar Pradesh, where individuals have resorted to self-immolation to protest alleged police inaction or dissatisfaction with legal proceedings in cases of sexual assault and land disputes. In one such case in 2020, a woman who set herself on fire outside the Chief Minister’s office in Lucknow succumbed to her injuries, with police suggesting the act was part of a conspiracy to highlight grievances in a land dispute case. Another incident in Unnao in 2019 saw a woman set herself on fire after the accused in her rape case obtained anticipatory bail.
The Chenab Times News Desk