Female employee's immolation bid in house of private shop owner in Coimbatore causes stir

Malar's relatives alleged that the reported immolation bid seemed suspicious and that Malar was actually set on fire since she was reportedly being sexually harassed by Navaneethan.


Coimbatore: Police are investigating an immolation bid in which a female employee tried to end her life by suicide inside the house of a private shop owner in Coimbatore.

Arumugam hails from the Varanapuram area of Bhavani Road in Erode district. His daughter Malar (37) reportedly tried to immolate herself in the bathroom of a private shop owner Navaneethan's house in Coimbatore's RS Puram area on Sunday. She was rushed to the Coimbatore Government Hospital with 80 percent burns.

On information, the RS Puram police conducted an inquiry and found that Malar had been married to Senthil, 10 years ago but divorced him after there was constant conflict over not being able to bear a child. Malar moved in with her mother and began working in a cement and tiles shop owned by Navaneethan in Bhavani, Erode district for the last six years for a salary of Rs.1500 per week.

It was also revealed during the investigation that Malar had been suffering from severe abdominal pain for a long time and was also struggling without enough money for treatment. She had reportedly asked Navaneethan for help and had not received any, Hence, Malar seems to have gone directly to Navaneethan's house in Coimbatore's RS Puram area and talked to Navaneethan and his wife Akila for about 45 minutes. Following this, Navaneethan reportedly promised to arrange Rs.50,000 for the first phase of Malar's treatment. But Malar allegedly went into the bathroom of their home and poured the kerosene she had already brought with her and set herself afire.

The police have registered a case on Malar under Section 309-Attempted Suicide and are also investigating Navaneethan. Malar who suffered severe burns is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Coimbatore Government Hospital.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Malar's relatives arrived at the Coimbatore Municipal Police Commissioner's office to lodge a complaint alleging that the reported immolation bid seemed suspicious. They alleged that Malar was actually set on fire by Navaneethan who had been sexually harassing Malar. The relatives demanded that appropriate action be taken against Navaneethan.

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