Dowry harassment allegations: Jodhpur lecturer sets herself ablaze along with 3-yr-old daughter

Jodhpur: A 32-year-old school lecturer, Sanju Bishnoi, allegedly took her own life and that of her three-year-old daughter, Yashasvi, by setting them both ablaze at their residence in Sarnada village in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district on Friday.

According to police reports, the woman returned home from work, seated herself on a chair, and doused herself and her daughter in petrol before igniting the fire. Neither her husband nor her in-laws were present at the time. Neighbours, upon noticing smoke emanating from the house, alerted authorities and family members. The child died at the scene, while Bishnoi succumbed to severe burn injuries the following morning at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.

Allegations of dowry harassment

A suicide note recovered during the investigation allegedly accuses the woman’s husband, Dilip Bishnoi, along with his parents and sister, of sustained harassment related to dowry demands. The note also names an individual, Ganpat Singh, who is suspected of having participated in the abuse alongside the husband. Police are currently attempting to ascertain Singh’s identity and involvement.

The woman’s father, Omaram Bishnoi, lodged a formal complaint with the police, accusing the in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. An FIR has been registered against the husband and three other family members. The family claims that despite having provided a car and other valuables at the time of marriage twelve years ago, their daughter faced relentless mistreatment, which reportedly intensified following the birth of her child.

Forensic teams, including experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), collected evidence from the scene, including a suspected petrol container and the deceased’s mobile phone, which has been sent for analysis. Authorities confirmed that the house was locked from the inside and showed no signs of forced entry or struggle.

Following the woman’s death, a dispute arose between her parents and her in-laws regarding custody of the body. After the post-mortem examination, the remains were handed over to her parents, and both mother and daughter were cremated together on Saturday.

This incident comes in the wake of another dowry-related tragedy in Greater Noida, where a woman was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws.

(Attention: Suicide is not a solution to any problem. Those struggling with mental health issues should seek help from professionals. The 'Disha' helpline provides free counselling and support servces. Dial toll-free helpline number: 1056 or 0471-2552056)