New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A woman in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh died this morning from major burns to her body.
Just before she passed away, she said that two officers set her on fire inside a police station after she refused to pay a bribe.
Neetu Dwivedi, 40, had gone to the station to free her husband, who had been detained for questioning in connection with a crime.
She told a magistrate before her death that the policemen asked her for 100,000 rupees (US$ 1,578) to release him. The accused have denied the charge and claim that she tried to immolate herself.
In view of the situation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav suspended the police officers and ordered an inquiry into the case.
Ms Dwivedi, who sustained 80 per cent burns, was admitted to hospital in the state capital, Lucknow, where she died on Tuesday morning. Before, she was able to talk about her ordeal to investigators.
The victim’s son, a journalist, wants justice. “My mother will only rest in peace when the guilty are punished,” he said.
This incident comes barely a month after other policemen allegedly set fire to another journalist, Jagendra Singh, in the state's Shahjahanpur district.
