Mayurbhanj: A woman died while a man is battling for life after an alleged self-immolation bid near Khiching College under Raruan tehsil in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Saturday.
According to sources, the duo poured petrol and set themselves ablaze near a field adjacent to the college at around 7.30 am. Local residents, including the woman’s brother, rushed to extinguish the flames. They were rescued in critical condition and taken to the community health centre at Sukruli, where the woman was pronounced dead. The man, with 70 percent burn injuries, was later shifted to Keonjhar district headquarters hospital for advanced care.
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The deceased, Bharati Patra (34), was married to Sanjay Naik from Jajpur and lived in Khiching Patra Sahi. She had been staying at her father’s home with her husband and daughter for nine years. The injured man, Harishankar Acharya, from Rairangpur, was married to Bharati’s close friend Swarnalata Si and resided in Panasi village.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Bharati and Harishankar were in an extra-marital relationship. However, the circumstances under which they took the extreme step are yet to be ascertained. “We were alerted about the incident at 9.15 am. A case has been registered and investigation is underway from all possible angles,” a police officer said.
