Disabled woman attempts self-immolation at Salem collectorate

SALEM: A 32-year-old disabled woman attempted self-immolation on the Salem collectorate premises on Wednesday after officials shouted at her a few weeks ago for causing them distress by seeking allotment of a free housing plot. Police said the woman, identified as Lalitha of Allikkuttai, had visited the collectorate two weeks ago as there was no action on her petition seeking allotment of a housing plot. The officials allegedly shouted at her. When she narrated her experience to neighbours, they allegedly suggested that she take a bottle of kerosene to the collectorate and attempt suicide. On Wednesday, she went to the collectorate carrying a bottle of kerosine. She alleged that some officials stopped her and spoke harshly to her. Soon, she doused herself with kerosene and set herself on fire. People present on the collectorate premises extinguished the fire and rescued her. Ambulance staff members from the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital gave her first aid. Later, Lalitha told collector's personal assistant P A Shalini that she and her two daughters had been abandoned by her husband two years ago. Lalitha said she had lived without any support for the past two years. She said she had petitioned the collector's office for a free housing plot, but no action had been taken. The collector's personal assistant assured her that steps would be taken to allot her a free housing plot.