Pregnant woman kills self

Vidya (20) of Vadugasathu village near Arni was married to Venketesan a weaver of the same locality two years ago. Already, suffering regularly from stomach pain, Vidya was now four months pregnant. When she approached a doctor for a checkup, he told her that stomach pain could affect the baby in the womb.

Scared by the doctor’s words, she doused herself with kerosene and set herself alight in her house. On hearing her screams, neighbours rushed in, doused the flames and rushed her to the Arni Government Hospital. After providing her with first aid, doctors rushed her to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital where as she was dying. She gave a dying declaration to the local magistrate and then succumbed to burns on Saturday.

Arni taluk police registered a case and a magisterial enquiry has been ordered while investigations are under way.