Claiming police apathy, Mathura couple sets self on fire

A man and his wife set themselves on fire outside a police station here on Wednesday, alleging inaction by the police over their complaint that some village strongmen were harassing them, officials said. The couple reached Surir police station in Mathura in the morning after pouring kerosene oil on their bodies and set themselves on fire there, with a purported video of the incident getting circulated on social media.

The couple suffered serious burn injuries and has been referred to Delhi for treatment, the officials said. “Forty-year-old Joginder and his wife Chandra Vati received serious burn injuries. They were first admitted to a private hospital here, before being referred to Delhi Safdarjung Hospital," said Mathura's Rural Superintendent of Police Aditya Shukla, who is camping in Surir town.

He said the fire was doused by nearby people and the police. "The case was related to an August 23 incident in which an FIR with names of accused was registered. The couple claimed there was no action by the police," said Mathura's Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur.

"Sub-inspector Deepak Nagar of Surir police station has been suspended with immediate effect and investigation launched over the alleged laxity by the police," he said. Mathur said a detailed probe is being conducted to find out the erring police officials who took no action despite registering an FIR on the couple's complaint.

Two other police officials, SHO Anup Saroj and Sub Inspector Sunil Singh of the police station too were suspended later by district police chief, said district police spokesperson S L Chandra Mohan. Talking to PTI on condition of anonymity, villagers said Joginder and his wife worked in a brick klin in Surir town but were facing harassment by four person of the village, who were trying to grab part of their land.

They said following an altercation on August 23, Joginder was hit on his head by one Satpal and his associates, but the police took no action against assailants despite profuse bleeding from his head. Satpal and his associates had been booked on charges of molesting the woman and assaulting her husband, said Rural SP Shukla.

A special police team has been formed to arrest the people accused in the FIR of harassing and assaulting the couple, he said. PTI KIS CORR RAX

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