Priest sets self on fire, wife dies during rescue bid

Coimbatore

A self-immolation bid by a Christian priest over domestic issues claimed his life and that of his wife, who tried to save him in Avinashi near Tirupur district, on Tuesday.

According to police, D Richard Franklyn (30) from Kondalampatty in Salem district, took the extreme step after a heated argument with his wife Jersy (28) at his in-laws house, in Avinashi in Tirupur district.

He was serving as a priest in a prayer hall, in Salem. The couple got married a year ago and the woman came to her parent’s house for delivering a baby. Two months ago, she gave birth to a baby boy.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Richard visited his wife and child and the couple broke into an argument over domestic issues.

According to police, “Jersy insisted her husband to move away from his parent’s house and wanted to stay separately. However, Franklyn was not interested and turned down her idea, which resulted in an argument. However, he wanted to live as a joint family.”

In a fit of rage, Franklyn walked out of the house and returned with a can of petrol and doused himself in front of the house. Shocked over this, Jersy tried to snatch the petrol can, but it spilled on her also. He lit the match stick and set himself on fire. When Jersy tried to douse the fire to save her husband, she caught fire.

On hearing their screams, the neighbours rushed the couple to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). Despite intensive treatment, the couple succumbed to burns, on Wednesday.

The Avinashi police have registered a case and further inquiries are on.